Alphabet’s Google has hired former PayPal executive Arnold Goldberg to run its payments division after previously retreating from a push into banking, according to Bloomberg.
Goldberg’s hire is part of a broader strategy for the company to incorporate a wider range of financial services, including cryptocurrencies, Google’s president of commerce Bill Ready told Bloomberg. Google’s financial services have historically avoided offering crypto.
Google didn’t immediately respond to CoinDesk’s request for comment.
In the fall, crypto platform Bakkt said its virtual Visa debit card would be available for use on Google Pay online and in stores. Bakkt’s Google Pay support follows in the footsteps of Coinbase, which rolled out support for Apple Pay and Google Pay for its Coinbase Cards earlier this year.
Ready told Bloomberg that Google is looking to do more of these types of partnerships with crypto companies including Coinbase, though Google still isn’t accepting crypto for transactions.
“Crypto is something we pay a lot of attention to,” Ready said. “As user demand and merchant demand evolves, we’ll evolve with it,” he told Bloomberg.
