Zynga begins testing Bitcoin transactions

Zynga has revealed it will add Bitcoin to its list of accepted currencies, driving the value of the digital money up to over $1,000 for the second time.

The social game company has already begun testing the system, which makes use of Bitcoin service provider BitPay, in certain games on the Zynga.com web platform.

Bitcoin first surged past the $1,000 mark in November after a US Senate committee cleared it as a “legitimate financial service”, but dove from a high of $1,250 to $421 a coin when China banned its banks from handling the currency.

The news that Bitcoin has another gaming partner now – its largest and most influential to date – has pushed its value per coin back up to $1,044.

The move was confirmed by company spokeswoman Dani Dudeck in the /bitcoin subreddit.

“In response to Bitcoin’s rise in popularity around the world, Zynga, with help from BitPay, is testing expanded payment options for players to make in-game purchases using Bitcoin,” she told the group of Redditors.

So far the list of games that accept Bitcoin transactions is limited to FarmVille 2, CastleVille, ChefVille, CoasterVille, Hidden Chronicles, Hidden Shadows, and CityVille.