Bitcoin Forum

I work with a printing company and merchandising companies, and I thought it would be interesting to create a product line with BitcoinTalk in mind.

But before I go any further, I would like to know what the opinion of the community was.

The first idea I had was something related to user ranking. But this or other possibilities are still being analyzed.

What do you think of the idea?
I appreciate your feedback.

Nope, physical items are bad for privacy.

If you're doing it just for fun then sure. If you're doing it to try to make a profit then you'll probably not get much or any custom.

I know there are people that invite their friends and family to this forum but I think those are few and far between and people probably don't want it to be a talking point among others or risk their privacy.

Nope, not interested, mainly because of the reason mentioned by Loyce. I didn't even pick up the "Scambuster of the year award" (which was a t-shirt) so I wouldn't be interested using any other forum related merchandise.


I invited couple of close friends to this forum but still I wouldn't wear anything forum related around.

I'd only be interested in collectible items which could be displayed privately at home rather than something I'd wear or anything like that, simply due to the privacy concerns already mentioned.

Obviously, you could frame a T-shirt if you wanted too, but it's not something I'd particularly be interested in doing. Judging by the interest of the rewards we had for an April fools, condoms were a popular choice :P.

Right as most of the forum members have priority of privacy and would not be willing to jump into this although you have good idea to sell some good merchandise for Bitcointalk lovers but you see they are physical items and needs to be delivered to some address and many will not be willing to hand out them.

If you see when there was community awards and prizes were to be handed out like holiday trip but the winners refused it to take because they didn't want to compromise their privacy with it and rewards were secondary for them even if the rewards were really good so paying for merchs will never be an option to them and compromise their security.

When there was Bitcointalk channel setup then there was suggestion of interviewing members in video but you see they refused it because they want to remain anonymous only and spend time over forum as usual only.

But you can give some samples to the viewers of how you will design products or merchs and see if you gain some customers from it and they have no problem with this business.

The only shirts on which I saw the inscription "bitcointalk" were those worn by some members who were collecting donations on the forum, which is somehow logical considering that they wanted to thank the donors and maybe promote the forum while distributing food and supplies to people in need.

For most EU or US members, such shirts would only be, as @Welsh says, of collector's value - but I'm sure our friends from African countries would be interested, considering that I noticed that they have a slightly different attitude when it comes to privacy (for those who regularly read the Bitcoin discussion certainly know what I'm talking about).

As a collectible, these items will have a value and I personally would be interested in some items.
See how you get on in meta, but it may be worth posting this in collectibles  :)

Not a terrible idea, but for the sake of privacy, developing a site that does not store users' home addresses for delivery would attract certain members, but if you are thinking of creating a service thread for your items, I will not be interested for the sake of my privacy. I'm not sure Africans and Asians would mind if these things were genuinely cool. They have been promoting the forum offline quite well; during Charity related works. Good luck OP

I would love to have some t-shirts with some of my favorite quotes from Satoshi Nakamoto. Maybe with this-
Or maybe this-

I always wanted to create something with wood long ago and try to sell them in the forum at a reasonable price as many people want to have some creative design. I have a few in my library including some crypto crafts too. I got the idea from "The Bitcoin Cafe" in Bangladesh though they don't accept Bitcoin lol.
However, I always had the same thought in mind, people may get interested but would never order because of their privacy. That's why I didn't go forward with this idea. If bitcoin were legal here,l I would definitely go with this idea.

Yeah, but that's hard to verify, this has been a common concern within the marketplace sections, and whether or not users were storing that data. Personally, I delete any sensitive data in PMs once its not needed, but no one can verify that except theymos. However, when it comes to a site you control, no one at all will be able to verify that you remove or don't store the data. Since you need some data to be physically able to ship items, you have to store it for a small period of time at the very least.

If you could come up with a system which was able to prove removal, and no data been extracted then I'd be very impressed, but as far as I'm aware it simply cannot be done.

3 years ago, theymos raised the topic and asked community about Bitcointalk.org collectible coin ? (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5111005.0). Later, I remembered one member who is famous in Collectible board created another topic about that but nothing was done after all.

Do you want to continue it?

I suggest if you want to create something, you should focus on important events in history of Bitcoin especially Bitcointalk.org forum.

Check more if you are interested in

• Bitcointalk's important historic changes (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5186820.0)

Is that the main privacy concern, or is there more to it than someone having members' mailing addresses?  

I'm probably being an ignorant fool with respect to privacy, because I'd be interested in forum merch--though whether I'd buy something would heavily depend on what it is.  I wouldn't buy a t-shirt or any kind of clothing, but something like a coin, a deck of cards, postcards, and things like that I'd buy in a heartbeat (if the price is right, of course).

And not for nothing, but I'm really hoping someone creates a commemorative coin for bitcointalk's 15th or 20th anniversary.  I wish I could help make that happen, but I've got nothing to offer.  But OP, I'd be willing to buy something as long as that something is of good quality and something I can keep as a forum collectible.  Minerjones made those BTC pennies back when Zepher died in 2019, and though I only knew him by reputation they mean something to me because I see them as part of bitcointalk's history.

Great idea.  It might be hard to sell, but I'd love to see something commemorate the start of the merit system.  It's hard to overstate its importance, and it was a major change that had both immediate and long-lasting effects.

Actually the Zepher tribute coins were made by @Bitcoinpenny, but I don't recall who else may have been involved at the time. I understand what you mean though, I feel proud and sad at the same time, as I knew Z in real life, and he was like a brother whom I still miss every day.   :'(

I understand the concern.

I've been thinking about how to do this for some time in order to preserve privacy as much as possible. I know this isn't easy.
Right now, I'm finding 3 ways:
- The customer (you) uses mailbox addresses or virtual addresses. Cause all countries have this kind of services. That way the seller (me) only knew that address, where he would send the order.
- To register the order, use encrypted form services, such as this one: https://blocksurvey.io/ I'm not saying I would use this one, it's just an idea. Had to investigate further (suggestions accepted).
- When placing the order, no information will be requested that connects the person who is placing the order to the user here on the forum.

Is it the ideal model? Maybe not, but it's the only way at the moment, that it's possible to make transactions of this kind, without compromising on a large scale the user's privacy.

What do you think about these points?





I have this kind of idea, and I've been trying to explore it for over 3 years. I can say that since almost 5-6 years. ::)
I still believe that it is possible to find a model that works.

This idea is super interesting, I also have plans. But first we have to find the ideal way to carry out the transactions.
At this first moment, the idea is to have an object that just mentions something, where only people who really know the forum would notice. For example, a logo with the text "I am Legendary".

Regarding the type of object, everything is still open.
It doesn't have to be clothes, in fact I even thought about other things (although I didn't mention it in the research). For example, what do you think of "Mouse Pad"?

@The Pharmacist think we can talk better later to share ideas via DM?

I’m sure it depends on the reason or what’s the target of it?

For example let’s suppose if bitcointalk is running out of cash and it’s for the collection of funds to run the forum then definitely yes many of us would be willing to participate.

But for any other reason than why bitcointalk merchandise why not “bitcoin” merchandise? I mean it’s available everywhere bitcoin > bitcointalk and it looks more nice wearing a bitcoin shirt or holding a bitcoin mug.

Sorry OP, but I probably would not be interested in this type of forum merchandise. Unless this is something issued by the official forum administration, I do not see much value. Almost anyone can make this kind of merchandise on their own or order it from a local print shop. It would be a waste of money to have it produced by a company we probably would not even want to order from anyways.

What if the hat you have on your avatar could be real, at an acceptable price?

Yeah that’s something I might consider too  :-*

Yes, I like your idea, I will buy a t-shirt, this is the very creative thing I ever heard. I know privacy is important, but I am still human and need wear something I like. I love bitcoin and all, including this forum, same as I love sports where I will love to buy the jersey.

Obviously not due to privacy concerns like Loyce said (lookup $5 wrench attacks). Also — I love Bitcointalk, but I don't need to be a walking advertisement for it lol; the same reason why I wouldn't normally wear a Reddit, Google, or Twitter merch. That's just me though.

Then I'd have to trust the site to not keep logs. I don't like the "trust" part.

That's impossible. You'll need to write the address on a box to ship it, and you can't possibly proof you didn't store the address somewhere.

I just checked (https://www.postnl.nl/ontvangen/post-ontvangen/postbus/): a post office box costs €329.12 for a year. And even then, there's someone at the post office who can make the link.

Theymos came up with this: How to do private giveaways (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5226333.0).

I was concerned about having to share personal data on the forum, but a cap, t-shirt or mug screaming "I'm a Bitcoin HODLer" makes you a real life target too.

Don't they have a service, like delivery lockers, where you only pay when you use it?




That's true. Nobody wants to walk down the street with a shirt saying "I'm a millionaire".

---

Maybe this wasn't one of my best ideas... :-[
I will think of something else that will be pleasant for everyone.

Nope. You could use a drop off location, but you'll need to use your real name (and show ID) to collect the package.

Many people are fine using a car that says it. Being a millionaire doesn't make you an easy target, they'll need to kidnap you and demand ransom and stuff. They can't just demand you transfer a million bucks to their bank account, because the paper trail would land them in jail before they can spend it.
With Bitcoin, a $5 wrench is all they need to take your money and never be found. And that's why I value my privacy much more when it comes to Bitcoin. And unlike the brand new Lambo, a t-shirt doesn't even mean you're rich. But I'd feel like a target anyway.

There's nothing bad in your ideaz just that many will have to go against it because of privacy as being mentioned earlier but come to think of it this way, anyone can easily get a bitcoin customized materials from the comfort if his location or made one on thier own interest than having a collection of people here altogether, things may not be well coordinated and many wouldn't prefer this as an idea, they can easily get one with much comfort individually if they wan, but you haveba good initiative actually, i also this more applicable when there's a need to reach out to people on free donation of bitcoin customized materials to the society.

I think it will matter on where you are in, cause  honestly  in my country even though you are wearing that T-shirt says that I'm a millionaire while walking in the street and criminals or thief  saw you, then when they look at your appearance is not good looking then thief won't waste their time for you,  but if you have a gold necklace, gold bracket and diamond ring in your body then without further discussion you will be missing  ;D and like what LoyceV said above they will kidnap you or worst they will kill you and get all your golds and diamond .

Right, but that information was only between the end user and the locker company.

You can say this is linkable. What is truth. But then it would already be necessary - in this case I - to have access to information about this company.
But here comes the question that you don't know me. And I had to prove what I am. Anyway, not impossible, but complicated, I understand.



I'll think of an idea that might be more interesting.  :-\

If the security is concern, I will not buy it.
Better to sell something that is more worth it in the future, a physical token with a code on it might be a good one.
Beside I'm wondering how much will be the shipping cost just for a printed shirt or a mug, I think it's not worth it. This is not to discourage you OP if you are planning to have this, but try to look for other alternatives, I'm sure someone will still be willing to buy a merchandise with a real worth.

I didn't do all the math for all the scenarios.
But, for example, I was able to send a cap, for about +/-25€ to almost everyone (price of the item and postage). I don't think it's an unrealistic value.

But privacy concerns are high, which I understand, and that might raise some doubts about continuing the idea. I don't know.

Yes, I am interested to show bitcoin in any form if I can especially I wear T shirts everyday and black theme most favourite so I would like to have one for me. As few mentioned it may be a concern for the privacy so I don't like to provide my real identity and details. :-[

I will like something like an art write up with a frame that I can hang on the wall of my living room, it will serve as a decoration to the room.  I don't fancy a shirt or a cap because wearing a shirt and working on the street, people will think you have enough bitcoin and it is dangerous. Art write up in my room won't exposed me to strangers.

What do you mean by written art? Was it a board with just letters, or something more elaborate but with a focus on the letters?

So far I'm not a very privacy-concerned user, it has made me consciously submit my KYC documents on a centralized exchange. But I also don't want to be a running ad that could compromise my security by criminals. You don't have to let people know that you're a bitcoin lover through a message on the shirt you're wearing, but have the shirt as a collection that might well hang on your personal wall.

I'd love to have this collection in my bedroom, but I'm not going to order it online.
IMO, good to remind me to hold bitcoin as much as possible.

https://i.imgur.com/rzyb7HM.jpg

Me too, as are many others! I would be interested in a collectible item and with a unique
design rather than something simple like a BTC symbol and HODL or something.

So yes I would be interested but not a mug or cap or tee.


Yea, same as that, I dont want to be going around advertising the fact that I am into
Bitcoin although realistically I wouldnt expect to get bashed over the head and mugged,
I mean I carry a smartphone and a wallet, anyone could be mugged for either of those.

OP your thread is not clear for people to comment, I was also confused at first then critically looked into the write up and thought of it for about some seconds before gotten the message.

It is a nice idea for creating a product lining on the companies you work, but before presenting them to the forum (bitcointalk) you would have given a sample of the products, is it consumable goods or otherwise. And also remember this is a global issue so how can someone from other Countries can get their products.

I can have that made in two local stores in my city and probably in a third one as well, although I am not 100% sure the 3rd one is still around. And I don't have to leave my address with someone over an online forum or a website that might be honest or go rogue one day. I am sure I would save a few dollars getting the merchandise done at my place of living without having to pay for the shipping costs as well. Nothing against you personally OP, just so that we are clear.

What kind of product would you find interesting?

On the one hand, I'd like to have some kind of merchandise from the forum I spend so much time on, but on the other hand, there are a variety of reasons I wouldn't proceed to buy anything. As LoyceV already mentioned, a forum-related t-shirt would shout from a distance that you may own Bitcoin. Not only does this make you a target, but you'll also be flooded with questions regarding Bitcoin every time you're in company. I'm not suggesting that you'll get mugged in order to have your wallet wiped, but it may give the vibe that you're wealthy. Bitcoin here is often seen as exotic by people.

Although I'd like to have something small as a coffee mug for cold winter days, providing that it doesn't cost a fortune to purchase. The combination of small-scale production and high shipping costs throughout Europe may be unsettling, and I wouldn't want a simple mug with a Bitcointalk logo to cost me over $25.

Guilty as charged and I suppose the one who introduced me would also take my guity plea, lol... In the end, your at privacy risk putting out anything with bitcoin on it to the world which would raise questions in the company and for the customers. The forum and bitcoin would stand to benefit and that would be you @OP not being selfish to try to let people in and having nothing to benefit from it but, your sure to gain some attentions as to what is and why have it. Better still, not have the attention of the wrong people in the masses.

In principle, I am not interested either for the reasons given. I don't want people to know that I have Bitcoin.


Although I do have a PO box and at some point I might use it to buy some forum collectibles. Obviously, I wouldn't put my real name, preserving some privacy, but the person sending it to me would know what area I live in and my zip code.

It would have to be something very worthwhile to do so.

Not calling into question what has been said so far about privacy, which I understand and agree with some points.

I see that most of the time, using Bitcoin to buy things is something that can be very complicated or risky, based on the aspects mentioned.

Is it more comfortable for you to buy directly from a street store, paying with Bitcoin? Or are the fears the same?

Yeah, that's like a cash transaction. They don't know my name and where I live and I don't need to know their either. That is of course they aren't using a payment processor that requires full KYC, which doesn't make it worth my time to: a) undergo KYC, and b) spend more money than I would if I paid with cash (considering the network fees + the service processing fees by the payment processor.   

So in your opinion, payments by Bitcoin are only viable if they are P2P? Or was it able to shop online, if so what kind of service?

No, not necessarily. But it's surely the best way to go about it. 

I have purchased airplane tickets when going on holiday with Bitcoin in the past. Obviously, you can't remain anonymous when you buy airplane tickets whether you do it with any type of fiat or crypto, so that's ok. Online shopping is similar. If you are buying a product, you are probably going to ship it to your home. So they have to know who you are no matter how you pay.

But if I physically walk into a shop, I find cash to be a more attractive payment option than crypto.
If the bill is $50, I pay and leave. No extra charges and not additional time wasting.
If you are paying with crypto, you might have to register an account with the crypto-to-fiat payment processor or undergo some sort of KYC (Bitpay for example). You are wasting time doing that.
And then when it's time to pay, there are additional charges. Network fees + processing charges. So instead of paying just $50 and leaving, I now need to pay $55 worth of BTC or something. I need more time to complete the deal since I have to register with Bitpay, and I handed over some or all of my personal information that they now have on file on a server somewhere. I don't see any benefits in what I just did.   

If you get a design for a forum mug, you can have it printed locally. That still gives the problem of the webshop knowing you're into Bitcoin, but it's probably cheaper than centralized printing and international shipping.
I checked a few mug printing websites, and found printed mugs for €18 including shipping. For larger amounts, it's 10 for €92 and 50 for €363. I expect prices can go lower if you search better than I did.

Avoid Bitpay or any other payment service that requires to you register while paying. Pay with LN. Fees are negligible, payment is fast.

Sure, but if I need/want that service/goods and Bitpay is what they use, that's what I need to do. Ledger, for example, uses Bitpay. If you only want to pay with BTC and buy on their official shop, Bitway is what you will using.

True, but again, it depends on the shop and what they use/accept/don't accept. Some places are more crypto-friendly than others. If you want to spend your coins in one that has a bad offer of shops, you can either accept to do it their way or not use crypto at all.

I suppose something with a unique design or unique piece of art depicting Bitcointalk.org.


That's a good point actually, using a walk in shop to buy doesn't necessitate us giving any
personal information other than a name ^{fake or real} and a contact number

I do prefer downloading stuff whenever I can and printing them locally, that can be 3d printing or anything else.
You can print bunch of random stuff along with Bitcoin, so your local webshop won't really know what interest you, but they don't really care if you print bitcoin, apple or fbi logo if you pay them money.
There is always an option that you can buy a printer and even start your own printing business and accept bitcoin payments.

As for privacy reasons, people can always create a new forum account to order and receive stuff, they can also use alternative delivery addresses and PO boxes.
Sure, this address will be connected with Bitcointalk forum, but they won't know your main account, and you don't have to use this alternative account ever again.

My vote was No thanks.
I don't want others to know my place and post code.
Long ago I won a t-shirt from sportsbet but then decided to give it away to anyone who was interested.

So, here it's not that I do not want to have a merchandise. Being anonymous gives me freedom to speak my mind without worrying me having followed by anyone.

A curiosity question: you don't usually buy anything online?
Or shop online but avoid using bitcoin?

That's actually a great idea, which I didn't think of myself. On top of that, you can get a personalized coffee mug for as little as €7 online, plus shipping, which is €2–3 at most. Not a bad deal at all. T-shirts can also be done locally at a relatively low cost, but as I said, I'm tired of answering the same Bitcoin-related questions every time.

I might actually purchase a coffee mug in the upcoming days. I'll let you know if I do.

So, could it be much more interesting for you to make a set of graphics, which you could print on the desired support?

Personally, I could also make a simple design myself too. It wouldn't include much, something like "I love Bitcointalk" with a heart emoji. You could potentially come up with a few designs for t-shirts, mugs, and caps, I guess, and sell them here for a few bucks each. In my case, buying a customized mug won't cost more than €10, I don't know about other countries, but it'll be hard for you to beat such a price. Thus, I suppose coming up with a few designs wouldn't be a bad idea, and it would overcome most of these issues (privacy, costs, etc) other members mentioned.

How about a QR-code that shows up when the mug gets hot?

Very interesting suggestion!
And that QR-Code would point to the forum, is that it?

yes, but is it not appropriate in what you mean in OP right?
The QR code doesn't show what I like, I think it's better if directly to the bitcoin picture that shows up when the mug gets hot. If possible, can it be implemented to t-shirts?, bitcoin picture that shows up when t-shirts wet with sweat?

I've seen something like that in a social media ad. would be quite an interesting product. a mug that changes color or image when exposed to hot water.

can such technology also be applied to hats or mouse pads? not because of the hot water, but maybe because of the light rays in the room.

It is true that the information does not appear directly when creating this type of article. But, it makes its use safer, based on the concerns that some users have indicated here.

A simple QR code does not clearly say that you like Bitcoin. But it might make a friend or family member ask what that QR code is all about. It is then up to each one to decide what to say, thus being able to approach the topic in the most comfortable and safe way for them.

I think we've all seen ourselves, people wearing t-shirts (for example), with just a simple letter, icon or any other element, which clearly doesn't say its meaning. Maybe we didn't know what it was, or maybe we asked if it was a person we know.

Let's say it's a way of supporting something, without saying it directly.

Or an addy. Or for the brave: a BIP38 encrypted private key :D

QR-codes with high error correction can have a logo in the middle.

"Look at that smelly guy promoting Bitcoin"

I thought about that too while the awards were going on and I felt it was an oversight by the organiser to have included prizes that demanded physical receiving addresses knowing it defiles part of what this forum promotes – privacy. I hope in the next award such will be monetized, rather than handed out as t-shirts or plaques.