[2015-04-30]The Guardian+Reuters: Bitcoin behemoth Coinbase launches in the UK

[pawel7777]

Bitcoin behemoth Coinbase launches in the UK

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/apr/29/bitcoin-coinbase-launches-in-uk

Coinbase, the American firm which has been called “the AOL of Bitcoin”, is to launch its services in the UK for the first time.

From Wednesday, British customers will be able to load up the company’s bitcoin wallets with pound sterling in addition to US dollars. Coinbase will also let financial traders speculate on the the price of bitcoin against pounds and euros on its exchange.

The move brings Coinbase into the competitive British market, which co-founder Fred Ehrsam argues is buoyed by the forward-looking attitude of UK regulators towards Bitcoin, as well as other financial technology innovations. “The payments regulators and the Treasury are taking a very balanced view of bitcoin. They’re really taking their time to understand the core technology prior to regulating.”

Same topic also here (didn't want to start new thread for that):

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/04/29/uk-bitcoin-britain-coinbase-idUKKBN0NK01E20150429

[Chef Ramsay]

This is quite a move to make things easier for the UK market to get their hands on btc by just linking their checking accounts to do so. Everywhere Coinbase makes a move to will be great for those on the ground in said places.

[Kprawn]

The funny bit about this article... " Coinbase stands out in the loose, anarchic world of bitcoin. It is one of a small group of companies attempting to sanitise the currency, ridding it of many of the negative connotations that have sprung up since it first exploded into the public eye in early 2013."

They not trying to "sanitise" anything.... they just following the money.  and the UK seems to be a Bitcoin friendly environment, with big pockets.

Coinbase with it's adherence to KYC/AML regulations, helped to decrease anonymity for Bitcoin users... and it goes against all privacy needs consumers should have. 

[MUFC]

This is quite a move to make things easier for the UK market to get their hands on btc by just linking their checking accounts to do so. Everywhere Coinbase makes a move to will be great for those on the ground in said places.

Yes, but will those checking accounts be safe by using them to purchase and exchange bitcoin as I have seen numerous complaints of British banks closing users accounts after they made transactions with it involving bitcoin? Hopefully this process has been stopped or people can use Coinbase free of any issues but for the time being I'd rather not tie my real world identity and bank account details to a bitcoin exchange personally.