PayPal Inc. has filed a patent application with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office for a modular payment device that accepts digital currencies.

The application’s abstract clearly describes the modular payment method. It stated that, modular device payment module includes a chassis which contains a payment module engine which determines that the modular device connector has been connected to a modular device frame.

The payment module then determines that the modular device identifying information matches an authorized modular device identified by the security information in the database. This in response enables the transmission of at least some of the funding source information from the payment module database to conduct a payment transaction.

The cryptocoinsnews.com reported that, the application included a description of how it manages virtual currencies like bitcoin, Litecoin and Dogecoin. Describing the physical characteristics of the device, the application included the image of the device as well.

PayPal hinted in 2014 that the application signals possible bitcoin integration. A virtual currency wallet is included in the virtual currency system. Virtual currency wallet a non-transitory memory including instructions to provide a virtual machine that is configured to give access to the wallet. The application also describes a system that includes multiple virtual currency cards, each of which corresponds to a specific virtual currency wallet.

Virtual card stores one or more private keys that provide the ability to transfer the virtual currency associated with one or more public addresses and has a different virtual currency wallet. Each virtual card stores the virtual currency wallet application in a TrueCrypt.

The application also noted that, consumers are increasingly purchasing items and services over internets and transactions are taking place with the aid of online or mobile payment services like PayPal.

Previously in 2014, the company noted in a SEC filing that its merchants could begin accepting bitcoin via integration with Braintree. Also the company revealed its partnerships with Coinbase, BitPay and GoCoin.