Tim Draper: Retail Is Entering the Bitcoin Era
American billionaire and investor Tim Draper believes that the time will come when retailers will accept only payments in bitcoin. According to him, the world is slowly approaching a tipping point where the cryptocurrency will become not just an alternative but the sole means of retail payment.
“There will be a moment when all merchants will say: ‘I accept bitcoin.’ And then there will be a moment when they will say: ‘I only accept bitcoin,’” Draper told Bloomberg Television.
Draper and his long-term bet on bitcoin
Tim Draper is not only a vocal supporter of cryptocurrencies but also an investor whose moves have helped shape the industry. Back in 2014, he made headlines worldwide by purchasing 30,000 bitcoins seized in the closure of the Silk Road marketplace for $19 million.
Today, that stash is worth around $3.5 billion. Draper was also among the first major investors to back companies such as Coinbase and Robinhood Markets, cementing his reputation as one of the most influential players in the crypto industry.
Bitcoin as a store of value, but change is coming
So far, Draper admits, bitcoin has been more often held than spent. Thanks to its steady rise in value, it has been viewed as a reliable store of value and a hedge against inflation.
But Draper believes it is only a matter of time before this changes. The more merchants begin accepting bitcoin, the faster its use in everyday payments will grow.
New fundraising for Draper Associates
Beyond his vision for the future of cryptocurrencies, Draper is currently raising new capital for his investment firm Draper Associates, which has long focused on supporting innovative startups in technology and finance.
If Draper’s forecasts come true, it would mark a fundamental shift in the payments ecosystem. Bitcoin would move from being a speculative asset and digital gold to becoming the dominant means of payment.
Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isUlxDu1588
https://fortune.com/crypto/2025/07/24/tim-draper-bitcoin-eight-fund-200-million-draper-associates/