Separately, the Litecoin Foundation used social media to explain that it has not entered into a pact with the retailer. This message was later retweeted by Litecoin’s verified Twitter account, as well as Charlie Lee, the creator of the cryptocurrency.
After Walmart called it a fake, GlobeNewswire posted a notice to “ignore” the press release. However, he did not comment on the false statement or the subsequent notice.
The bogus press release said that Walmart would allow its customers to make litecoin payments in its online stores. An email previously sent to a contact person in the statement remained “undeliverable”.
Retained by various means, the announcement provoked an immediate reaction in the virtual currency market, making the value of Litecoin go from 175 to 230 dollars in a few minutes, an increase in its value around 30%. Walmart’s stock opened higher on Monday, but last time it was down 0.8%.
Bitcoin prices also fell after turning positive, briefly, after the hoax announcement.
With information from Reuters and AFP