Wordpress to accept Bitcoin without confirmations
Blog platform says there's low risk in unapproved transactions

Simon Sharwood
2012-11-16

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/11/16/wordpress_to_accept_bitcoin/?utm_source=the+Register&utm_medium=twitter

Automattic, the company behind blogging platform WordPress.com ,has decided it will accept payment for some services through Bitcoin, the controversial open source currency.
...

Intriguingly, the company will offer Bitcoin payments without waiting for 'confirmations', a method Bitcoin uses to verify transactions that relies on other participants in the Bitcoin network recording the transaction and passing news of it to other participants.
...

A short Silvervigilante article on the Wordpress Bitcoin announcement, republished by the Ludwig von Mises Institute of Canada

The Bit Heard Round the World? WordPress Begins Accepting Bitcoin

SilverVigilante
2012-11-15

http://silvervigilante.com/wordpress-accepts-bitcoin/
http://mises.ca/posts/blog/the-bit-heard-round-the-world-wordpress-begins-accepting-bitcoin/

WordPress, the modern equivalent of the Gutenberg press, has announced that it will accept Bitcoin for upgrades.  Now, without the use of PayPal or credit cards, users of WordPress, which has lit the philosophical and journalism movements on fire with its ease of use for website administration and blogging. Is, essentially, the dominant financial system is at risk of losing the Internet?  Now, the WordPress sphere denominates value in BTC, and not only fiat.
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Bits and pieces: Virtual money and terrorism

Simon Palombi
Simon Palombi is an intern in the Lowy Institute's International Security Program. He has previously interned with the UN Counter Terrorism Executive Directorate.
2012-11-16

http://www.lowyinterpreter.org/post/2012/11/16/Bits-and-pieces-Virtual-money-and-terrorism.aspx

...
The European Central Bank recently published an official study into digital online currencies, the first by a major financial institution.

Alarmingly, the report tends to play down the suitability of these currencies to terrorist groups. In particular, the report passes off legitimate concerns, such as those raised two years ago by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), as 'negative press'. Indeed, the report fails to account for the development and increasing market for the digital online currency known as Bitcoin, and not only its potential for use to launder money (raised by FATF), but the access it provides to weapons available via online black markets.
...

However, while governments, such the US and Australia are aware of Bitcoin's potential to circumvent counter-terrorist financing measures, they have not moved fast enough to amend legislation and develop a solution. Australian counter-terrorist legislation is currently ineffective against Bitcoin because it defines electronic money as digitally stored money, either electronically or magnetically, that is backed by precious metals, or gold bullion.
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WordPress to accept bitcoins due to PayPal, credit card blocks
The blogging platform said accepting bitcoins will open up payments from countries not served by PayPal and credit cards

Jeremy Kirk
2012-11-16


http://www.goodgearguide.com.au/article/442274/wordpress_accept_bitcoins_due_paypal_credit_card_blocks/


WordPress said Thursday it will accept bitcoins, opening up the blogging platform to payments from users in countries not supported by PayPal or credit card companies.
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Since bitcoin's debut in 2009, a small but growing number of merchants are accepting the currency, but it has not seen mass adoption in part due to a lack of easy-to-use software tools, an unstable exchange rate and concerns over how governments may regulate it.
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WordPress now accepting Bitcoin digital currency

Brittany Hillen
2012-11-15

http://www.slashgear.com/wordpress-now-accepting-bitcoin-digital-currency-15257301/

WordPress has just announced a new way for users to pay for upgrades regardless of where they’re located or what payment restrictions may be in place: Bitcoin. Now those located in places where PayPal blocks access, or for those whose credit card companies are finicky, can trade in their local currency for some digital funds instead.
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Just a short report - but theverge is a pretty well known news site.

WordPress starts taking payment in Bitcoin

Jeff Blagdon
2012-11-15

http://www.theverge.com/2012/11/15/3651684/wordpress-payment-bitcoin-bitpay


WordPress, the popular blogging platform / content management system is expanding its payment options for upgrades like going ad-free. Beginning today, users around the world will be able to pay with Bitcoin — the unregulated, decentralized digital currency built on cryptography. Explaining its decision, the company noted that PayPal currently blocks access from over 60 countries, and that many credit card companies have similar restrictions, whether because of politics, fraud, or other reasons.

WordPress says that its Bitcoin payments will be handled by BitPay.com and that there is no need to wait for confirmation since the transaction risk is “already acceptably low.” And while Bitcoin famously doesn’t permit refunds (because of the possibility for fraud), WordPress says it will still honor its refund policy, working with BitPay to get unhappy customers their money back.

I have a feeling we'll be seeing quite a few articles on this

WordPress.com criticizes PayPal, credit card firms for restrictions, now accepts Bitcoin

Emil Protalinski
2012-11-15

http://thenextweb.com/insider/2012/11/15/wordpress-com-criticizes-paypal-credit-card-firms-for-restrictions-now-lets-you-pay-with-bitcoin/

...
Automattic on Thursday announced you can now buy WordPress.com upgrades with Bitcoins, as part of the company’s mission of “making publishing democratic.” To justify the additional payment method, the company noted that PayPal alone blocks access from over 60 countries, and many credit card companies have similar restrictions, for political reasons, financial reasons, and/or due to higher fraud rates.
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This announcement is a huge win for WordPress.com users, but it’s an even bigger deal for Bitcoin, which has had a troubled start but is slowly gaining credibility. Validation from a service as huge as WordPress.com is a big deal.
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Reddit Considering Bitcoin for Subscription Model Says CEO Wong

Kyt Dotson
2012-11-12

http://siliconangle.com/blog/2012/11/12/reddit-considering-bitcoin-for-subscription-model-says-ceo-wong/

...
Reddit CEO Yishan Wong himself appeared in a thread on Reddit speaking to the likelihood that the site might start accepting the cryptocurrency:

    "Yeah, I’ve been a longtime subscriber to /r/bitcoin and had done a lot of investigation into BTC quite a bit about a year ago before I took the reddit job (on my own, as a subject of interest).
    So – no promises, but we’re looking into it."

Right now, Bitcoin has been around long enough that as a technology it’s becoming quite mature. As a business model, however, it’s still foundering even with individuals bringing its use to various national outfits and forwarding it into different markets. Inside the community, Bitcoin works fairly well (aside from its prominent failures); but outside the community its barely known and largely regarded as a fringe fad.
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Having Reddit take up that mantle will give not just further legitimacy to the using the cryptocurrency, but it will provide added stability to the largely speculative market that the currency exists in. The best way to stabilize the market will be to have numerous vendors begin accepting bitcoins for exchange, but one at a time will not hurt.
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Agents' search in Romney tax returns case spurs denial by Franklin techie
Report that Romney tax returns hacked led to investigation

Josh Adams
2012-11-12

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20121112/WILLIAMSON01/311120020/Agents-search-in-Romney-tax-returns-case-spurs-denial-by-Franklin-techie?nclick_check=1

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The search warrant also lists several IP addresses that could be used to identify which machines posted the apparent extortion letter onto the website, Pastebin.com. Similarly, authorities are looking for connections to a digital currency site, Bitcoin, through which the money was to be paid.

Several years ago Brown paid $5,000 to acquire about 371,000 bitcoins and, according to a 2011 article in Wired magazine, was the “richest man in in the bitcoin realm.”

Brown acknowledged the circumstantial connection but said that, after the value of bitcoins tanked, he created another form of digital currency to compete with bitcoin. Why would he demand payment in a digital currency that competes with his own? Brown countered.
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see also:
"Cats lead Feds to KnightMB (worth 371kBTC) in Romney Tax Hack. Now he's asking for donations."
http://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/12yfnk/cats_lead_feds_to_knightmb_worth_371kbtc_in/

Banks cautiously open to partnering with tech innovators

Spandas Lui
2012-11-09

http://www.zdnet.com/au/banks-cautiously-open-to-partnering-with-tech-innovators-7000007070/

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The tech big boys' move into the payments arena may spur new players to jump on the bandwagon. There are already peer-to-peer payment providers, such as Bitcoin, that are popping up and are fast gaining momentum in the payments space.
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Australian Crime Commission 011-12 Annual Report Chapter 3
Investigations and operations

2012-09-17


http://www.crimecommission.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/annual_reports/1112/ACC_AR_2011-2012_chapter3.pdf

(part of full report: http://www.crimecommission.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/annual_reports/1112/ACC_AR_2011-2012.pdf)

...
In focus > Understanding virtual currencies and Darknets

Cash and wire transfers are no longer
necessary for online purchases.
Virtual currencies can be used as a
substitute for the exchange of funds
between individuals, corporations
and across national borders.

For example, Bitcoin is a peer-to-peer
virtual currency that uses complex
technology to allow willing parties
to transact directly with each other
online. peer-to-peer trading means
that no central authority issues new money or tracks transactions. these tasks are
managed collectively and underwritten by the Bitcoin peer-to-peer network.

Due to the perception of anonymity that virtual currencies can provide, there is
significant potential for virtual currencies to be used for criminal purposes including
money laundering, terrorism financing, trading in illicit commodities a payment for
online services including access to child pornography.

In June 2012, we hosted a multi-agency workshop in Canberra, looking at the
emerging threats posed by criminal use of anonymous online payments systems
including Bitcoin as well as ‘Darknets’—closed private networks of computers that
can operate as online marketplaces.

the workshop was attended by 37 participants from 12 state and federal law
enforcement and regulatory agencies. It allowed, for the first time, all agencies
dealing in these potential crime areas to pool intelligence. the workshop comes as
law enforcement is examining the links between Illicit online drug Darknets such
as Silk Road, the anonymous currency Bitcoin, and the importation of drugs and
firearms via the postal system.

the workshop also provided opportunities for partner agencies to identify
intelligence gaps, scope future strategies and form partnerships to combat the
criminal use of emerging technology.

Workshops such as this are a key ACC tool to support information and strategy
sharing in the ever evolving cybercrime environment.
...

In focus > An online criminal marketplace

Drug deals that previously happened face-to-face can now be conducted online,
with the seller and the buyer never actually meeting. this provides both parties with
a perception of anonymity and safety. It also provides organised criminal networks
with the largest potential client base ever available.

one such online black market enables users to buy and sell illicit commodities such
as heroin and cocaine. It also offers pre-paid debit cards, uncut gemstones, stolen
credit card numbers and a money laundering service.

most of these online sites ship their products worldwide for a small fee and employ

a range of anonymity protecting security measures.

Crime and Misconduct Commission worker Dr Michael Gerard Briody pleads guilty to contravening secrecy
AN OFFICER from Queensland's crime watchdog has been handed a suspended eight-month jail sentence for leaking a confidential report that was later posted on the internet by his son.

Brooke Baskin
2012-11-08

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/crime-and-misconduct-commission-worker-dr-michael-gerard-briody-pleads-guilty-to-contravening-secrecy/story-fndo45r1-1226512942017
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/crime-and-misconduct-commission-worker-dr-michael-gerard-briody-pleads-guilty-to-contravening-secrecy/story-e6frg6n6-1226512942017

...
Dr Briody was suspended from duty on September 7 after allegedly leaking parts of a confidential research report detailing police and other law enforcement agency strategies for fighting the use of "Bitcoin" virtual currencies by criminal syndicates.
...

So that's where the leaked April 2012 FBI report came from!?
Edit: actually - the FBI leak seems to predate this:

Prosecutor Todd Fuller SC told the court the report, which had been granted an "in-confidence" clearance level by the CMC, was disclosed by Briody to his son between June 6 and September 8, 2012.

It seems likely to be the 'Hidden in Plain Sight' report issued by the Queensland Crime and Misconduct Commision as reported here:
http://www.itnews.com.au/News/315014,police-struggle-with-online-drug-networks.aspx
(and noted in the press subgroup here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=108323.0 )

Does anyone have a copy of the actual report?

Short introductory article on a tech site in Greece, with the famous 'What is Bitcoin' video.

Bitcoin: Tο επαναστατικό νόμισμα που σαρώνει στο Διαδίκτυο [Video]
(Bitcoin: The revolutionary currency that scans the Internet [Video])


Theodora Konstantope
2012-11-07


http://www.techgear.gr/bitcoin-internet-currency-56310/


(snippets via machine translation)
...
Although many describe as the Bitcoin currency of the future, one of the major concerns arising due to the lack of control mentioned above is that it is a highly attractive means for illegal transactions ... On the other hand, thousands of online stores and agencies accept payments already Bitcoins.
...

Europese Centrale Bank ziet gevaren in Bitcoin
(European Central Bank sees dangers in Bitcoin)

Henk-Jan Buist
2012-11-07


http://webwereld.nl/analyse/112365/europese-centrale-bank-ziet-gevaren-in-bitcoin.html


(snippet via machine translation)
...
Bank afraid of reputation damage
The ECB looks at the advent of virtual currencies with suspicion and suggests that as these grow more supervision is needed.
...

(Newcastle Herald)

Just a single mention of Bitcoin

Detectives follow the Silk Road

Lauren Vardy
2012-11-07

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/734298/detectives-follow-the-silk-road/?cs=12


A LUCRATIVE website that sells illegal drugs is proving a challenge for Esperance detectives to rein in its activities, but as they turn their attention to the online marketplace, detectives are finding local deliveries have “practically stopped.”

The Silk Road website, which is achieving an estimated $22 million a year in sales, functions similarly to a black market version of eBay, where drugs such as ecstasy and cocaine sell for far less than their street value in Australia.

Users can access the service using TOR software, designed to mask the user’s location and details, before payment is made via the encrypted digital currency Bitcoin.
...

Slashdottings regarding Bitcoin aren't so rare any more, and the responses in general seem to be getting slightly less anti-Bitcoin as time goes on.
(or perhaps there are just more Bitcoin enthusiasts around now to balance the tone)
Reported here for completeness.

European Central Bank Casts Wary Eye Toward Bitcoin

2012-11-03

http://yro.slashdot.org/story/12/11/03/1516231/european-central-bank-casts-wary-eye-toward-bitcoin?utm_source=slashdot&utm_medium=twitter


An anonymous reader writes
"Erik Voorhees blogs for bitinstant.com: 'On Oct 29, 2012, the European Central Bank (ECB) released an official (and very nicely prepared) report called "Virtual Currency Schemes (PDF)." The 55-page report looks at several facets of what virtual currencies are, how they're being used, and what they can do. As it happens, the term "Bitcoin" appears 183 times. In fact, roughly a quarter of the whole report is specifically dedicated to Bitcoin and it's probably a safe assumption that Bitcoin's growth over the past year was the catalyst for producing this study in the first place. The report from the ECB concludes, in part: Virtual currencies fall within central banks' responsibility due to their characteristics, and Virtual currencies could have a "negative impact on the reputation of central banks."' Could this be the first step toward regulation of the digital currency?"

The European Central Bank on Bitcoins

Robert Wenzel
2012-11-02

http://www.economicpolicyjournal.com/2012/11/the-european-central-bank-on-bitcoins.html

I have finally had a chance to read in full the unsigned report by the European Central Bank that I mentioned earlier this week. The report is quite impressive.
...
The anonymity feature  of Bitcoin is the feature that I believe could be the driving feature behind the potential success of Bitcoin. As world governments attempt to get in the middle of more and more private transaction, more and more buyers and sellers will seek anonymity. (I discussed this during my interview with Trace Mayer).
...

Trace Mayer of RunToGold- Bitcoin as Good (Or Better) Than Gold?

WallStForMainSt - Jason Burack interviewing Trace Mayer
2012-11-02

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYHALDuV0UQ
(www.wallstformainst.com)

In this controversial 28 minute interview, Trace talks about his book, where QE to Infinity fits in with his views of the macroeconomic situation, if all assets are deflating against Gold, and then he lays out a very extensive argument for why Bitcoin could be safer than Gold and many Austro-Libertarians/Anarcho-Capitalists should strongly consider transacting and buying and holding some Bitcoin.

Leading the E-money Revolution

Jeffrey Kutler
2012-10-27

http://www.institutionalinvestor.com/blogarticle/3108571/Leading-the-E-money-Revolution.html

COINS, CURRENCY,, checks and credit cards — marvels of portable value that have stood the test of time — are eminently replaceable by new technologies
...
Still, we are talking about cards. The good news for banks is that they dominate today’s card business and profit regardless of how transactions take place. But money is becoming more virtual.
...
Banks are making some moves that indicate they don’t want to let the mobility trend get away from them.
...
Meanwhile, there’s another new form of money: virtual cash for Internet transactions. The most prominent brand, Bitcoin, was launched three years ago by an anonymous programmer, and the value of virtual coins on the network exceeds $100 million. Although it fits the digital money definition, Bitcoin has grown virally, outside official banking and regulatory channels, and its core supporters in the fiercely libertarian cypherpunk movement prefer to keep it that way.

Ouch.. according to One Minute MBA - 'What you need to know about Bitcoins'
This video manages to ignore most interesting aspects of Bitcoin and focus on the 'not-so-legal side', in a way that superficially appears to be giving an 'overview' of Bitcoin. Truly awful.

Bitcoins: The Currency of the Darknet
Bitcoins are an online currency with no ties to a government or central bank. Since their inception in 2009, it has become a medium for all kinds of black market activities online. Here’s what you need to know about the not-so-legal side of Bitcoins

One Minute MBA
2012 (some time in October)

http://www.onlinemba.com/blog/bitcoins/

edit: well, I guess some people will be happy to see Bitcoin described as good for black market purposes - but the problem I have with the video is that it seems to be being used as a more general explanation - and as such, doesn't even tell half the story.
I first found it via http://pulse2.com/2012/11/01/watch-how-bitcoins-work/
where the poster states " I like how the video gives a quick and concise explanation of how Bitcoins work since I do not know much about the currency."
Not a great intro to Bitcoin IMHO!