Bitcoin Forum

I am new to BTC and have done a little research and I am ready to buy some.  :)

Trouble is that there are serious hoops to jump through for a UK investor.

So far I have been unale to find a way to fund my MtGox account since the information supplied is not compatible with the UK bank transfer system (ie, there is no Sort Code for MTGox and their account number is incompatible with our system).

So the flaw in my opinion is that buying BTC is such a pain in the posterior  - this makes it only compatible with the investor who is prepared to perform financial acrobatics to fund his account.

The point of BTC is supposed to be an easy transaction currency - UK users and many more around the world are finding it too difficult to get involved and BTC will simply become an investment and not a currency for real transactions.

Have I missed the point ?

I think you ought consider the possibility that what you are describing is a flaw with government not a flaw with bitcoin.

As times goes in it will get easier and easier buying Bitcoins.
If there's a demand, someone will supply!

Yes, as stated. not a flaw in bitcoin in any way.

The real problem is UK banks freezing the feeder accounts of bitcoin exchanges (regardless of whether or not some evil conspiracy is involved).

An ingenious workaround will eventually come forth.

Yes, you've missed the point.  How easy is it for you to buy US $ in the UK?  It is an easy transaction currency once you have some.  Try starting an online business of some sort, and accept bitcoins.  That's what is needed more than a better ways to trade government fiat for bitcoins.

UK user here :)

It's not a BACS transfer like you are describing, it's an international wire transfer. Look around on your banking website and you should find a form for doing them.

Make sure you read the instructions on mt.gox VERY CAREFULLY and write the "DO NOT CONVERT" in the 'note' section.

That's about it :) p.s. if your depositing < £500 you should look into using OTC as the transfer fee to mt.gox is about £45 with everything totaled.

You could use BACS back in January but our banks have got anal about bitcoins and shut down all 3 of the accounts we used to use.

Barclay's hate it as it's competition to PingIt for example...

Also, UK being "finicail capital of the world" means our country pretty much relies on banks/trading and so bitcoins is our kryptonite.

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Yes, you've missed the point.  How easy is it for you to buy US $ in the UK?  It is an easy transaction currency once you have some.  Try starting an online business of some sort, and accept bitcoins.  That's what is needed more than a better ways to trade government fiat for bitcoins.
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Great idea, except for any business to succeed there needs to be cash flow. As long as I am unable to transfer BTC back to GBP the business wont last long  >:(

I think this is a short term problem also. Think about work arounds for the short term. A business could use BTC directly for some of it's needs. One can pay phone service, save profits, buy business insurance, and other things right now; without converting.

In the long term, forget conversion. You have more useful money when holding bitcoins, especially if you want to go global. I doubt however you will ever be able to pay your taxes in bitcoin, so you will need some pounds.

Then either start as a hobby business, and simply sell what you can sell; or just add bitcoin payments to another existing business model.  Maybe bitcoins will become  a significant part of the business, maybe they won't.  Doesn't really matter, if the goal is to aquire bitcoins for your own purposes cost effectively.

i would like to see some of those bitcoin ATMs they are putting in cyprus in more places