Bitcoin Forum

I think that the TradeHill referral program is a really great idea. But there are a lot of criticism lately because of people spamming their referral links everywhere.

Having my email address in the leaked MtGox database, I even received 3 personnal emails containing TradeHill referral code.

Is it really TradeHill fault? What do you think about it? And, on a personnal scale, do you think you will make any money with that system? Statistically, if you have 100 referred users, that should cover your transaction fees, which is quite interesting.

Do you sometimes think about the referral code you used yourself and wish you could change it? I personnally used Bruce's code, having registered after seeing his tweet.

I not sure, I just see the referral money. TradeHill has some people taking advantage of the downfall of MTGox. That is too bad.

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Well, how many do _you_ have by the way? Since I used your code (just to be sure, as Bruce mentioned 5% and you wrote something about 10%, I didn't want to have any risks) I guess you also should be beyound the 100 ref-mark! ;)

I currently have... *checking*... 112 Users referred and earned 4.85 USD from them - just ~2 times more and I get a free meal at McDonald's! Yay! 8)

I really like referal systems like Dropbox + Tradehill, where both the referred user AND the "referral giver" (?) do benefit instead of just benefitting one party.


What really get's annoying though is how many people started to spam after some time... just put it away in your sig and post constructively. It will be noted!
I doubt that getting 200 referred users via a spam thread will see as many trades (and in the end income) as 50 users that take some time and want to reward someone by using their reflink.


One fact that I don't like is, that ref-income is in USD. I don't use USD, it constantly looses value against my currency and is imho about to crash - but I always have to wait until there is at least 1 USD in my account to be able to convert to BTC. I also fear the some day I will have 15 US cents, 8 Eurocents, 30 Pesos, 2 Yen... Bottom line: I want my ref-income in BTC - after all, this is a BTC exchange!


@bitcoinconnection: To see how many ppl. you referred, click on your user name/email address in the top right corner, you then get a full account overview or (if you dare :P) use the link https://www.tradehill.com/User/Profile/

You can see the exact number of users that put your referral link by going to your personnal info page (clicking your email address on the top of the page)

I don't have a tradehill account and the spamming doesn't help convincing me to take one.

sukrim > I just passed the 100 referred mark, just like you.

I agree that the fact that it's in USD sucks. I even received a 0.015 LR. I have no idea on how to spend them. They just sit there, useless.

I hate it. It encourages spam which is close to the last thing any company should want. And if I was going to trade there I would refer myself instead of giving some spammer free money.

So setting up a second account, ref'ed by the first and collecting referral fees? I guess such a construction should be easily detectable + a bannable offence... I would advise against such stuff, as you risk your BTC/money to be frozen any time.

ENOUGH ALREADY!  Tradehill created a legion of spammers, this makes me less likely to use the service.

Sure some people get annoyed by the spamming, but that's really only a problem for this forum where every other user has a TH account or knows about them. Almost everywhere else you will be the first person to post about Bitcoins and get peoples interest.

It's basically an advertising campaign paid by your customers. Well played I say.

Just discovered that bitcoin7 (https://www.bitcoin7.com/?ref=7123) is doing it too. They don't have so much spam although they are still open. What's the catch?

You kidding me? Why would you leave money with someone you thought would do that? Do you think he'll steal my money if my wife refers me?

Getting 100 people to spam the forums is retarded. I don't know how anyone thinks spewing pollution makes for a good image.

To me it really reinforces the types of people that are drawn to bitcoin, the spammers & beggars & scammers. The only thing I have against tradehill is their referral program that they designed to be spammed (use it on forums! etc.). I'm really glad to know I've had to see all those annoying ads nonstop since they launched so a few lucky people could earn almost enough for a fast food meal.

We've been removing referrals from people who spam.
There were no email spam issues until the Mt Gox database was released.

We don't think ending the referral program is the answer but we're always up for suggestions.

To be clear, I consider the join tradehill forum posts that are/were made here on an hourly basis to be just as much spam as something sent through email. Sure, it's mostly the fault of the forum administrators who let all manner of scams and spammy self promotion through, but it still falls on you for having designed a system to take advantage of the atmosphere. Because that's what referral and affiliate programs are mostly for: to let businesses enjoy questionable promotion tactics while maintaining an air of deniability.

I don't expect you to stop it as it's clearly a very effective means of promotion here. But I'd at least suggest you make it clear upfront that you'll cancel the accounts of anyone spamming via email, blog comments, or forums or irc where it's against the rules - and provide an easy way for someone to make a complaint about it.

Yea I actually used your referral link :P  And definitely, bonus to both parties is a plus.


I would also have to agree somewhat about the income.  It would be better if they gave an option, perhaps, to receive either in USD or in Bitcoins.