Uber is once again considering accepting cryptocurrency payments, years after first exploring Bitcoin (BTC) as a payment method

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi claimed that the ride-hailing giant is investigating the usage of cryptocurrencies as a payment option, the third time the business has made this claim since 2021. 

Speaking at the Bloomberg Tech conference in San Francisco on Thursday, Khosrowshahi stated that the business is in the “study phase” of examining stablecoins for operational purposes.

Khosrowshahi expressed that he finds stablecoins particularly intriguing, noting they offer practical benefits that go beyond simply serving as a store of value.

Uber was an early member of the Diem Association (previously Libra), joining in 2019 to promote Meta’s now-defunct stablecoin plan, which sought to transform global payment systems. 

“You can have your own opinions about Bitcoin; it’s a tried-and-true commodity, and people disagree on where it’s going.” But stablecoins appear to be pretty promising, particularly for transnational enterprises moving money around the world,” Khosrowshahi added on Thursday. “That’s something we find very interesting, and we plan to explore it further.”

These remarks align with what Khosrowshahi told CNBC back in September 2021, when he mentioned that Uber would consider adopting Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as a payment option.

At the time, he denied any plans to include cryptocurrency on the company’s balance sheet, stating, “We are going to keep our cash safe.” 

In February 2022, Khosrowshahi shared with Bloomberg that Uber is open to accepting cryptocurrencies as a form of payment in the future, stating it will “absolutely” happen at some point, though the timing wasn’t right yet. He mentioned, “We’re constantly having discussions,” and added that Uber would be more inclined to adopt crypto once the transaction process becomes more cost-effective and environmentally sustainable.

When he made crypto-related statements in 2021, BTC remained flat for three months. However, his February 2022 remarks came weeks before the start of an industry-shaking 

Crypto-asset investments are high-risk; you may lose your capital