An Irish stud is taking a chance on the Bitcoin boom by offering a racehorse for sale in exchange for the cryptocurrency.
The value of Bitcoin soared to more than $US20,000 in 2017 but the boom has come off the cryptocurrency in recent weeks with the value dropping to $US12,300 on December 31.
Tinnakill House Stud wants four Bitcoins, or the nearest acceptable offer, for an unraced son of Dalakhani out of a Group I-placed mare that has produced two winners.
Tinnakill House Stud representative Jack Cantillon told the Racing Post the idea started as a bit of fun but could turn out to be worth the punt.
"I wouldn't be surprised if we can get a deal done at the level we've pitched him at. We'd want a quick sale - four Bitcoins could be the equivalent of a fiver or five million next week," he said.
"Receiving the four bitcoins would be like breeding a mare to a stallion with its first runners in 2018. Bitcoin might take off even further after strong showings at the 'crypto yearlings' sales of 2017.
"However, I'm fully aware it probably won't, and we will be stuck this time next year scratching our heads asking ourselves what were we thinking.
"We've been there before in a different bloodstock guise so why not with a cryptocurrency! The best-case scenario for the four Bitcoins? We'd love to buy the second horse via Bitcoin after selling the first one."
