Major U.K. bank Barclays plans to accept bitcoin later this year, according to a report by Ars Technica UK. The bank currently has 75 staff members working on integrating bitcoin acceptance.

However, rather than dealing directly with bitcoin, the bank will go through a bitcoin exchange, according to the report. In addition, at first only charities will be able to make bitcoin payments.

"No Bitcoin is travelling through Barclays systems," a Barclays spokesperson said in an email to Ars Technica. "We are working with some charity clients in a proof of concept to understand how Bitcoin payments might help with their fund raising and fund disbursement needs."

It is currently unclear whether Barclays will allow other clients to begin making bitcoin payments.