Japan-based Internet services provider Rakuten Tuesday announced plans to enable customers to choose bitcoin as a payment option by integrating Bitnet's payment processing platform on a number of its marketplaces, according to a press release.

The Internet services giant will begin accepting the new payment method first on Rakuten.com in the U.S., to be followed by Rakuten.de in Germany and Rakuten.at in Austria. 

The integration with Bitnet's platform will make Rakuten one of the largest e-commerce companies in the world to accept bitcoin, according to the announcement. In addition to offering consumers enhanced security, privacy, and convenience, Rakuten merchants will immediately see the benefits of being able to use a digital currency, including instant global reach with no cross-border fees, no price volatility, and no fraud, risk or chargebacks, Bitnet said in the press release.

"Rakuten's mission is to empower the world through the Internet," Yaz Iida, president of Rakuten USA, said in a statement. "Not only can bitcoin support this vision by helping our merchants better compete globally, but it also has the potential to benefit society by enhancing the security, privacy, and convenience of financial transactions. This is one of the reasons why we invested in Bitnet last year and we look forward to working with them on our U.S. marketplace."

According to John McDonnell, co-founder and CEO of Bitnet, "Rakuten's global marketplaces are great examples of how digital currencies can impact global commerce. We're excited to join with Rakuten in helping both merchants and shoppers reap the benefits of this new technology."