The Bunny Ranch, a Nevada-based legal establishment that is among the most popular brothels in the world, is considering accepting bitcoin payments according to owner Dennis Hof. Hof, who own seven brothels in Nevada, said he is exploring bitcoin in response to requests from his customers, who he said include some of the world’s wealthiest men.
Hof said bitcoin’s anonymous nature makes it suitable for customers who have a lot to lose if their private business became exposed to the wrong parties, as reported by Quartz. He noted that customers often bring duffel bags full of cash to pay for his services, a form of payment that poses a security challenge.
Guest Anonymity
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have become popular in part due to their anonymity as well as their secrecy, Hof said. While cryptocurrencies were once viewed as a form of payment preferred by the Internet’s “underbelly,” they are currently in use by mainstream businesses, some of which pay their employees in bitcoin.
The Bunny Ranch has been featured on HBO’s Cathouse show. Hof has spoken at Oxford University about prostitution and has featured his brothel in books and podcasts, and on social media and live streaming events.
Precedent Already Set
The Bunny Ranch will not be the first business offering prostitution to accept cryptocurrency.
Dr. Nights, a Dominican Republic-based adult vacation resort, recently decided to accept payment with cryptocurrencies, including bitcoin, Dash, Litecoin and Ethereum. Prostitution is not illegal in the Dominican Republic, and all girls are first screened with police background checks and regularly tested for STD’s with records on file with the local police.
Cryptocurrency payment not only provides clients with increased anonymity when booking this kind of resort, it also makes them eligible for the resort’s Save 31% payment option. Dr. Nights offers a range of tour packages for single men and couples to live out their wildest fantasies in a beachfront tropical paradise. Every package includes at least one 24-hour companion. Dr. Nights representative Brandy Hamilton said the company wanted to offer clients the option of paying discreetly and with total anonymity using bitcoin and altcoins.