A development team from the United Kingdom has unveiled the Mini-POS, a point-of-sale (POS) server designed to enable physical merchants to accept Bitcoin Cash (BCH) payments with zero confirmation transactions. The device is now available for pre-sale, with shipments expected to begin in the summer of 2018.
Zero-Confirmation Transactions for Instant Payments
The Mini-POS server allows merchants to accept 0-confirmation BCH transactions in-store, eliminating the need to wait for blockchain confirmations. According to the team, the process works as follows: the merchant enters the amount due, the server checks live exchange rates in multiple fiat currencies, and the terminal displays a QR code linked to a generated BCH receiving address. The customer scans the QR and sends the payment. Approximately 10–15 seconds later, after the server verifies via multiple sources that the transaction is in the Bitcoin Cash mempool, the terminal displays a “Payment Completed” screen and resets for the next transaction.
The device supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Ethernet connectivity. The team emphasizes that no private keys are stored on the Mini-POS server at any point. All transaction fees are paid by the sender (the customer), meaning there are zero ongoing costs for the merchant.
Open Source Code and Pricing
The Mini-POS codebase is open source and available on GitHub. Pricing for the pre-sale is set at $200 USD for the Mini-POS server and cashier terminal kit. An additional Mini-POS terminal can be purchased for $75, and the standalone server for $125. The team plans to launch a wallet with fiat conversion capability in September 2018 and outsource product manufacturing by October. Currently, the terminal system is being tested at a UK-based store.
Market Significance
Bitcoin Cash was designed as a peer-to-peer electronic cash system, but its adoption in physical retail has been limited. Mini-POS addresses this gap by providing a dedicated hardware solution that mimics traditional POS terminals. While zero-confirmation transactions carry a theoretical double-spend risk, the multi-source mempool verification reduces that risk significantly for small-value in-store payments. The product is aimed at small merchants and stores, and could help expand BCH’s utility as everyday money.
Interested parties can pre-order the device through the Mini-POS website. The team plans to start shipping in summer 2018.