Amazon CEO expresses optimism about the future of cryptocurrencies and NFTs

Speaking during an interview with CNBC after releasing his first shareholder letter as the new CEO of Amazon, Andy Jassy said that while he does not own any cryptocurrencies or nonfungible tokens, or NFTs, he is optimistic about the outlook of the industry. Jassy stated: 

“We’re not probably close to adding crypto as a payment mechanism in our retail business, but I do believe over time that you’ll see crypto become bigger. I expect that NFTs will continue to grow very significantly.”

Specifically, regarding the sale of NFTs by Amazon, Jassy claimed that “it’s possible down the road on the platform.” Last November, Cointelegraph reported that Amazon was hiring a Financial Services Specialist who “understands the overall cryptocurrency and digital asset ecosystem,” with experience in blockchain and distributed ledger technology. 

However, Amazon posted another job advertisement two weeks ago that also solicits applicants for the same role. Notable job responsibilities include being “able to define industry-specific messaging and collateral that effectively communicate the AWS [Amazon Web Service] value proposition for AWS digital asset solutions in financial services.” Interestingly, the job ad does not state any degree requirements, only that of work experience. 

Despite the optimism, Jassy reiterated the company’s stance from last July that Amazon “is probably not close to adding crypto as a payment mechanism in our retail business.” Among major e-commerce tech firms, Shopify has been at the forefront of crypto adoption, with the company announcing earlier this month that it would accept Bitcoin (BTC) as payment on the platform via The Lightning Network and Strike. However, the move has also triggered skepticism from users, with some pointing out the legal ramifications of funds not going through the Know Your Customer process.