I am thinking along the lines of how the PayPal value transfer service became widely adopted because of the eBay platform.
And Steem has been distributed via the Steemit platform.

I get that only people already interested in Bitcoin are going to go onto a Bitcoin forum, but some other platform where the USP is more than just 'we use bitcoins' and other ways of interacting with other users is facilitated - an exchange Hub of some variety.

There does seem to be very little promotion of Bitcoin and absolutely no mainstream advertisement for its use.

I would like to contribute to the ecosystem in someway - My feelings are that Bitcoin needs more facilitators, more social network type platforms that link people together with extra possibilities to use our digital tokens. The idea with Bitcoin is that each individual can interact with another, with a third party - but some platform to help facilitate this 'meeting of individuals'.

- A working hypothesis and maybe there are platforms on the way?

franky1

Am I right in thinking that you're suggesting that Bitcoin is TOO much 'on the internet', and the thing missing is the tangible, human aspect to it... a face? Isn't there enough information online to get people started with using Bitcoin?

Some of the 'real world' suggestions you made are projects that either have been made or are in the process of developing/ like the easy to use wallets ie. AitBitz and others. There's BitPay and ShapeShift for accepting payments etc.

I guess my thoughts are along the lines of... is there something else? Maybe along the lines of Steem? Steemit is a bit of a microtopia but its success seems to be more based on its merit rather than support for the ideology behind it/ or wide spread adoption of its token(s).

yayayo, I do agree with your view of Bitcoin being the 'first killer app' and didn't mean to emphasis the word 'Blockchain' in my original post. Bitcoin has the network, the time & money invested - it's more than just a nifty piece of software.

RodeX, as you pointed out, limited access is crippling adoption. The vision is that bitcoins are available to all, being highly transferable for any other good, commodity or currency worldwide - but that really isn't the case. I think this in itself is severely retarding the network effect which Bitcoin relies on.

WHat is missing in the Bitcoin EcoSystem?
Why hasn't it blown up yet?
It is still just a Speculation tool, albeit I think a good one.

SO far there is basically nothing that RELIES on Blockchain technology, if the technology disappeared tomorrow - the world would hardly change.
Where are the communities/groups with their activities that depend on Bitocin?

I'm sure most of the people on this Website are hopeful and can see some potential in Bitcoin, what are your thoughts on what is holding this technology back from having a greater impact on society?
And what are your thoughts on what steps can be taken to navigate this?
Is there a crucial part missing from the Bitcoin EcoSystem that needs to be made/created for the technology to have impact?

Your thoughts are much appretiated.....

I'm happy to buy bitcoins (and a few other crypto-tokens) because I believe in the technology and the positive change it could have on the world.
I don't really check up on the price so much, maybe every couple of weeks. I think Bitcoin is like a butterfly in its cocoon state at the moment, it will evolve into its 'proper use', valuation fluctuations of the network are just noise until that point in time.

There must be a way of getting your Bitcoins to use in some 'Enterprising project'. I have been really racking my brain for ideas of how to 'invest' my Bitcoins or put them to good use somehow.
My thoughts are to invest them into business (as you would with fiat money), but somehow keep the exposure to the currency (Bitcoin)......
Any ideas?