Bets are being taken on which next major retailer will accept BTC by end of 2018

[Patatas]

I believe, that's so difficult to happen, because of fee cost. Ok BTC is so volatile, but the fee infeasible for  merchant. But anything can change if the fee  will changed.

Correct.It is impossible to happen given bitcoin isn't regulated and the big names certainly don't want to risk it all  with the money laundering policies.

On topic,the bet is stupid and there will be no winner since the probability of any of those names accepting bitcoin is zero.I would be slightly inclined towards 'Mz' had it been in the list.Steem already stopped accepting bitcoins,take that into consideration as well.

[icanscript]

Bitcoin's long wait for the Lightning Network is almost over.

Announced today, the startups behind the three most active Lightning implementations have revealed test results, including live transactions, proving their software is now interoperable.

The findings, released by ACINQ, Blockstream and Lightning Labs, effectively bring Lightning (the mechanism many see as the best solution for increasing bitcoin's capacity) closer to public launch.

And while admittedly technical, today's announcement offers evidence that makes it seem like enthusiasts will soon get their wish.

Firstly, the Lightning specifications, in progress since last September, have entered version 1. These describe the rules of the network, comparable to the standards that prop up the internet.

While that's not to say the specifications won't evolve over time, they've now been deemed good enough to support the first real Lightning Network.

According to the founder of ACINQ, Pierre-Marie Padiou:

"This is the Lightning standard we've been working on for more than year. There's been a lot of work from us and from all participants. It's a big milestone."

Secondly, all the implementations have been shown to be compatible with one another, based on Blockstream engineer Christian Decker's over 70 tests, which he put together over the summer.

And last, but not least, as displayed with the two live transactions, the three main implementations of Lightning are indeed interoperable, a piece of the puzzle that developers have been working on since last year.

"We've been able to make successful payments on the mainnet that goes all around the world, and which involves different compatible implementations," Padiou said. "That's kind of a big deal."

According to experts, we have become very close
to the commissioning of the "lightning network." After this, it will be possible to accept rates for the speed of joining retailers to crypto payments.

[omonuyak]

Read an interesting article on Forbes.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/rogeraitken/2017/11/29/bitcoin-odds-on-to-be-accepted-by-mcdonalds-at-end-of-2018-but-could-it-break-20000/#36f6f3811385

There is a site called Betway Group and there are bets underway which retailers are most likely to offer Bitcoin as a merchant until the end of 2018. Here are their odds predictions at the moment.

Walmart                        1/5

British Airways            1/3

McDonald’s                  1/2

Argos                             4/5

Amazon                         6/4

Easyjet                           7/4

Apple                             5/2

Primark                         3/1

John Lewis                   7/2

National Rail                4/1

Greggs                          10/1

Poundland                   10/1

Source:  Betway

In my opinion I think that Apple and Amazon odds are way too high. I also think Mcdonalds at 1/2 odds is very high considering their meals are cheap and due to bitcoin miner fees it would end up costing the meal almost double. Whats everyone's take on this?

I think amazon's bets is going to click as a process is already in progress and there is a lot of speculation that amazon is going to used bitcoin before end of this year but it could not happen but I think buy next year, 2018, this is going to happen and argos rate seen so high to me though I know little about them related to bitcoin. I have to say that if this betting become positive it then mean bitcoin may get to  $50,000 by 2018.

[NewBet]

I have heard a lot of rumors that Amazon will be accepting Bitcoin in the future. Anyone else hear this? Any truth to it? what do you think?

[Don Pedro Dinero]

I have heard a lot of rumors that Amazon will be accepting Bitcoin in the future. Anyone else hear this? Any truth to it? what do you think?

There have been lots of rumors but up until now they are just that, rumors. I will be very surprised if Amazon starts accepting bitcoin because virtually no major retailer accepts bitcoin (apart from overstock). If they did, it would be a big move that would eventually lead other companies to accept btc as well, out of fear of missing the boat.

Lightning network may play an important role in bitcoin’s acceptance. If transactions get faster and cheaper, there will be no technical issue impeding bitcoin as a method of payment.

If things stay as they are now, I think it is unlikely many companies will accept bitcoin.

[Siopao]

That would be exciting if the news are true. Amongst those stores Im looking forward with McDonalds to he accepting bitcoin. It would be a new experience for customers. I wonder how would it work. Would the price volatility of btc matter? How would the transaction and process go? So many questions right now coz I really haven't experienced a btc transaction. Looking forward for this to happen 😃

[Mike Mayor]

For any of these places to accept Bitcoin you will first need to get over this high transaction fee nonesense.

I have heard a lot of rumors that Amazon will be accepting Bitcoin in the future. Anyone else hear this? Any truth to it? what do you think?

Talk f Amazon accepting bitcoin has been going on for a long time. It is still not confirmed yet. Instead Amazon should rather have it's own coin. I think this will only happen when Bitcoin gees more stead and altcoins have become more established.