Bitcoin Forum

Coool!  8) Can I get one?  :D

sweet!

You bite your fingernails, can't light a photo, and have a print out of a non working credit card.  What's the announcement?   ::)

At least he likes a good pint of beer!

Is that a wheat beer? Perhaps a hefeweizen?

I'm guessing a Belgian Tripel.  Too dark to be a weizen, and it's the wrong type of glass.

Back on topic, what's the cut for MasterCard transactions?

Charlie, Are we allowed to post which bank owns that BIN/IIN, the first six digits of the card number? ;)

Interesting...

Why not? You can find it in 30s with Mr. Google.

https://blockchain.info/address/14sjfPJbkf8WDXcFrFmnnodrkZemh1Z1LB (https://blockchain.info/address/14sjfPJbkf8WDXcFrFmnnodrkZemh1Z1LB)

the bitcoin debit card is making progress?

you spent 719.2888092 BTC with the card  :o

Perhaps an IPA with lots of hops.  :)

That just shows how little I use glasses. :)

You just blew through your savings buying everyone at the bar drinks?

Tell me if I'm wrong: The 3-digit code on the back of that card is    291      ;)

I hope it is coming soon, I can't wait anymore!

BS...

Really? Who is it then? ;)

It's not a real account number.  56789012345 :)

But it looks really cool!

It's actually the glass a lot of places use if the alcohol content is >9%

I'm a bit worried the QR Code will rub off or give out the wrong address.  What are the chances of this?

QR codes have a built in checksumming mechanism, so the chances of that happening are marginal or practically non existent.
If the image is unreadable the reader would report an error.

More vaporware from the BitInstant boys ... that is clearly a printout of a design, not a real card. They have been promising the "first bitcoin card" since July, while in reality, other services had loadable cards that you could load with bitcoins (or MtGox vouchers) years before them...

Kudos to their marketing department though! They know how to stir a fuzz with not much and spin some facts!

That's a bold claim, do you have any incises to give that credability?

In the mean time I call bullshit. It's real unless you can point out what's wrong with it. 

I point gnomes and fairies are real until you can disprove me, you've seen the pictures online right .... flawless logic there :)

i think i can smell the honey from here ... honey wheat beer is it?

... name, address, occupation, SSN , health-card, TBF rego, all rolled into one usuable bitcoin address ... tatto it onto your inner wrist and you're all good to go.

According to https://www.bindb.com (https://www.bindb.com)
Edit: I'm not sure how accurate this is, the website points to bank of china in paris  ???
Wikipedia supports that this # is associated with an HSBC MasterCard
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Issuer_Identification_Numbers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Issuer_Identification_Numbers)

So do you accuse bitinstant of fabricating the photo? Then I suggest you get at it since the burnden of proof lies on you.

Mind you I am not claiming that this picture is absolute proof of the existence of the card but that it suggests it is valid more than your simple claim that it is not. You are engaging in the typical prove me wrong fallacious reasoning. Nobody will take you serious until you back up your accusations with something.

Waitwaitwait...

So when BFL releases some preliminary product renders and folks cry "fraud" you jump on their bandwagon and assert that when the crowd shouts "fraud" the burden of proof is on the manufacturer: "Prove to us you're NOT a fraud!"

Then when BitInstant releases a preliminary product pic and folks cry "fraud" your immediate response is "nono, that's not ok you guys, those making the claims of fraud bear the burden of proof, anything else would be fallacious!"

Inconsistent reasoning is inconsistent.

But seriously...

OMGZ BITINSTANT CARD!

Its a made up number for promotional cards in marketing material. It was a joke. :D

+1000 - when I worked at Verifone all our MasterCard "test cards" that had to have a valid BIN and checksum digit - but didn't actually exist or carry balances - were 5472 75XX XXXX XXXX numbers.

Plus, y'know the part where the rest of the card is 6789 012345 and the bit where they were willing to post the whole number on a random forum should've been a big big hint that it's a mockup.

Still, good mockup and glad to see progress!

No it's not the difference is no history of fraud and a sound business model.

I'm not saying that I am certain it will happen or this is really a sample card of the real thing. (the picture was posted without comment) What I can confidently say is that bitinstant is more transparent than BFL in their proceedings and I consider them more trustworthy.
It could turn out to be publicity stunt of some sort, at the worst. But until is see some indication that it is I maintain that it is a genuine product.

Reasoning: No preorder requirement no special commitment required no direct profit to gain from the company if it doesn't happen. Even if the product trurns out to hit a roadblock I think there is a genuine effort taken to bring it out.

I would imagine the major difference is that bitinstant isn't run by a convicted fraudster and hasn't collected millions of dollars in pre-orders...

LOL this ^

And now that we've begun repeating ourselves, I remember what futility it is to feed the trolls and return you to your regularly scheduled BitInstant MasterCard thread.

Sorry for the derailment, moving on with life.

he's got you dead to rights there mucus

Mistrust, but verify.

Sweet!

My BIN database shows:

I think the photo is just a mockup, not a real number. I did the same thing. lol

Yankee, what exactly was the point of posting this picture?

The purpose was to generate discussion over a graphic that was already posted three months ago on their blog. Just more vaporware, and outrageous marketing tactics, like the "proposal to mitt romney" article on their blog. More vaporware ...

MODERATORS: How is this not SPAM when nothing specific has been announced, the MAIN bitcoin discussion thread was used to post a picture that has been on their blog and other news outlets for months now?

could you show we more detail?
it's interest and good job!

While this doesn't give me a hard-on (it's close though  :o) it's a great teaser for what we may see in the future. Can't wait to see it happen.
I don't understand all the hate in this thread. It is just a picture, no claims => marketing at it's best.

Btw, what's the point to use Bitcoin-based debit cards? To convert bitcoins into dollars? Nonsense. Bitcoiners would better focus on encouraging others to accept bitcoins.

Enmaku: Should BitInstant do an EXTREMELY SHADY MAKEOVER, like say,
move to an unknown address, list a fake office on their webpage,
fire their secretary (and replace her with a cell phone number),
refuse to answer questions from anxious customers (See: Town Hall thread),
hire Inaba to make funny, evasive jokes instead of addressing the worries of customers,
and also take ten million dollars (or something) in pre-orders,
THEN, I should say "cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war!"

In the meantime, as long as their core business stays healthy,
and doesn't also look like it's intentionally set up to be able to one day disappear completely,
or is also run by convicted felons, then yeah, BitInstant can do pull whatever stunts pleases them.

The differences between the two companies are pretty obvious and pretty stunning.
BFL could do well to learn a thing (or a thousand) from BitInstant.

Great idea. So next time someone asks me if they can buy anything in the real world with Bitcoins, I'll just tell them that if they want to buy a head of lettuce, they have to work on convincing the grocery store to begin accepting Bitcoins.

Looks good. Did it pay for the beer?

Yes. When a lot of ppl ask the grocer if they accept bitcoins he will, likely, pay more attention to Bitcoin.

Of course it did. And no, the bartender did not wonder at all if "Cardholder Name" was a real name or not.

Sorry if I offended you :(

As elux was saying (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=115308.msg1244275#msg1244275), there is a myriad of differences between the two companies - this is reason enough.

In addition to that, BitInstant provides services; they don't produce products. BFL do. When BFL say "we have this technology, please preorder", it is right for someone to ask for evidence (though an absence of evidence doesn't mean there are no conditions under which that is judged to be an acceptable choice); especially when it is something that hasn't been done before. When BitInstant post a photo they aren't asking for money, they're just saying "look at what we're working on", and yes, it is still right to ask for evidence - who doesn't want that - but at the same time this lack of evidence doesn't mean as much because there is less value (for the individual) in the truth of BitInstant's claim (IE: that they have a bitcoin debit card in the works).

The point of all this is not that you should or shouldn't be satisfied with what has been provided (that is, of course, up to you), but that there is certainly room for someone to not demand as much evidence from BitInstant as they would from BFL. Since such a position is not inherently contradictory the argument falls down.


It allows you to save in bitcoin and use them very easily and very quickly. If nothing else, it is moving bitcoins faster in the economy, which is brilliant.

Furthermore, yes, bitcoiners need to talk to others about Bitcoin (and the bitcoin) and encourage them to accept the bitcoin as they do money other currencies; however, in the mean time this is an excellent compromise - it, at the very least, sponsors the movement of bitcoins through the economy (albiet in a needlessly complex way that involves fees and such and so is not as good for the economy as 'true' business in bitcoin), which is better than not at all.

What's the point? It is a bridge. Something that is useful to the bitcoin economy, but not as good as we'd like. Process is important, and this simply helps that along (for an analogy, think of why "half a wing" is in fact useful evolutionarily).

Anyway, just my 20 mBTC

That's a too good posting, you must be a sockpuppet! :-)

Cheers!

Ente

I use to have chronic fingernail biting habits like him.  I still do actually but I try really hard to hold myself back.

I would be interested in a real update with dates for example.

The card will be associated to a single, static address?
If someone finds out my card address, s/he will be able to know how much I've put and will put in the card?

I hope you implement a way of generating disposable addresses to fund the card. The static printed address might be practical in some situations, but its use should be avoided - you should also explain why to your clients.

Despite that, congratulations for your development! You're already a valuable resource to this community, and it gets better by the day.

I thought Mastercard shot down these rumors in August.

http://blog.bitinstant.com/blog/2012/8/23/the-press-and-the-paycard.html

Was that beer purchased with that card?  ;D

I might have missed it in what has already been posted but a few quick questions if you don't mind.

Will you be able to load it up with MtGox USD? And if so what is the fee?

Will you then be able to withdraw that at an ATM? And if so what is that fee, including conversion to CAD at a Canadian ATM?

Thanks

Hm...


http://blog.bitinstant.com/storage/post-images/press.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1345760615226
Charlie in the Spotlight

Is it he or she? I'm confused.

Looks very cool...

Haha, well thank you (I think?)

I'm just trying to be rational about it; sometimes it seems people forget this step.

But it is the number I use on my luggage.

expired 12/11 ?

Seems to me the card emittent wasn't sure if they would be able to provide support of the card the whole December. Who knows what will happen after the 21th of December...

Can't wait for mine, I hope it becomes a reality! This is what BTC really needs to start bringing in more people... instant access to their money.

Bitinstant is the man of the year if he pulls this of.

Acquiring millions of merchants while convincing them to accept a new currency, a new method of accepting payment, and a new process for financial settlement is a major undertaking. It took VISA several decades before they ever realized a small profit.

Think of it like a revolutionary new type of engine--does it make sense to spend millions of Bitcoin to lay thousands of miles of brand new "rails" all over the world for your new engine to run on? A more sensible approach is to use your new engine on the existing "rails" that are already established in a massive network all over the world. Once you have a substantial volume of traffic, switching merchants to alternative rails becomes a viable option.

I see that as a mute issue, I'd rather protect my actual CC number than my public bitcoin address....  With the CC number they could spend money, with the bitcoin public address they could look up money on just that address.... who cares?  It's easy enough to find someones public bitcoin address, the thing you want to protect is your CC number.  If you don't trust whoever see's the card with your public bitcoin address then you sure as hell shouldn't trust them with your CC number right?

The word you're looking for is "moot".

Hey now, let's not bring 4chan into this!    ;D

I'm pretty sure it's "moo."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIkJ4BUChxI&feature=related

Yeah, the card's purpose is not at all anonyminity or even safety.  It is designed to do two things, which it will do very very well:  first, to allow people to instantly sell btc for fiat and be able to access that fiat instantly (yeah yeah, we'd all like to use bitcoin to buy things, but in the meantime, this is a good solution); and second, it is a great conversation starter for introducing people to bitcoin.  Now they know about bitcoin, and they also know it's as easy to spend as "real" money.  Now they might get interested... (And hopefully, they'll learn enough to wish they didn't have to use a card to convert back to fiat!)

That card is a great thing for bitcoin, anonymity and security be damned!

That's the point, it's not that difficult to find someone's public address. It's not the fact that it's physically displayed in the card the problem, since as you say, the CC number is also there. It's the fact that only one funding address exist. Even people to whom I'd never show my CC could eventually discover my funding address.

Why not also provide a page where you can dynamically generate a new address to fund your card, every time you want to do so?

PS: I'm supposing there will only be one funding address per card. Perhaps that's not the case. One of the points of my original post was to confirm that. ;)

Quoting for posterity.
Such rationale might explain many things that happen around here.

Exactly.

What card? I haven't seen any cards yet.

FWIW, launching a card product is complex and experiences many unforseen, unavoidable delays. Even if you have hundreds of millions of dollars in the bank, the wheels of big corporate bureaucracies seem to move painfully slow from the perspective of those used to moving at internet Bitcoin speed. There's so many different entities involved, each with critical paths and potential disruption points; at a bare minimum you have: BIN sponsor, issuer-processor, card network, card bureau (manufacturer), and program manager. :o

Plus, card networks have all these strange "blackout" periods throughout the year where nothing is allowed to get done. If you slip a milestone and some important component falls into one of those windows, your whole project timeline stretches out like salt water taffy on a hot summer day. Even once you have everything approved and locked-and-loaded, you can miss a manufacturing window and get delayed additional months, etc...

Having personally project managed a card product from beginning to end, I can sympathise with the lack of being able to provide a firm date.  :'(

Thank you for those insights!
Yes, we surely are used to some pace here.. ;-)

Ente