Kentucky Senator accepts bitcoin donation

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, who has officially announced his candidature for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, has started accepting bitcoin donations. The bitcoin payments are being facilitated by processor BitPay and donors can select bitcoin from a number of available payment options.

Paul is the newest member in the list of high-profile American politician to accept bitcoin donations. The US Federal Elections Commission approved bitcoin fundraising as a type of in-kind donation last year.

In 2010, Paul was elected to the US Senate with major support from the Tea Party movement. He is one of several candidates, including Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who will contend for Tea Party support during the Republican presidential primary.