Patent attributes
A method for initiating a virtual currency exchange includes a merchant computing device a) receiving a message including a user account identifier, payment credential data, and a request for an amount of virtual currency to be delivered; b) transmitting a message delivering the requested amount of virtual currency; and c) receiving a user assignment message that assigns to the merchant an amount of assigned virtual currency from the delivered virtual currency. Steps a, b, and c are performed while the merchant computing device is in a first physical location. The method also includes, subsequent to steps a, b, and c, connecting to a payment network while the merchant computing device is at a second physical location and transmitting, to a virtual currency payment system via the payment network, an assignment completion message including the user account identifier, a merchant account identifier associated with the merchant, and the assigned virtual currency.