What's stopping people from using bitcoin?

[~Bitcoin~]

There are lots of the reason among them i think price fluctuation is one that make people fear to use bitcoin or hold bitcoin for longer time to use in daily life. There are lots of people out there roaring bad things about bitcoin after using bitcoin atm as they have losses around 40-50$ in a week due to price fluctuation.

[RealBitcoin]

Can bitcoin now pass the "Grandma test" as in "would your grandmother understand how to pay with bitcoins ?"

I think if your Grandma age not yet reached 50, I sure she will understand how to pay using bitcoin in smartphones.

What kind of grandma is 50 year old? Was she pregnant at 5?

Most grandmothers, by the time you are able to use bitcoin normally ~ 15 , are usually above 60 or near to it.

By the time you are adult they hit 65 or even 70.

60 year old grandmothers can barely use anything other than TV, oven, and washing machine. 

We need a new generation of old people to be bitcoin, and it wont be even your parents

[newbitcoins]

Most people do not accept new things straight away. It will take time for most people to move to bitcoin and use it for daily purchase. It may take decades for bitcoin to be widely accepted currency.

[n2004al]

Most people do not accept new things straight away. It will take time for most people to move to bitcoin and use it for daily purchase. It may take decades for bitcoin to be widely accepted currency.

I don't think so. Only for 6 years of life bitcoins has only here on bitcointalk more than 500 000 users. To not tell for others who don't prefer to be part of this forum. Only China has millions between users and miners. the spread will be every day much more than the previous. The results and even the last bubble of bitcoin is a clear signs of this spread. It was an increase of demand from China which is behind the increase of price for about 100% and its drop at 50% (at least this is the most probably reason told by most of the analysts). The remaining 50% which is reflected in the actual price of bitcoin compared to the one before the bubble is a clear sign of the increase of the people which know and want bitcoin. And this demand are mostly new people which want to be owner of some bitcoins.

[knowhow]

Countries are avoiding ,banning bitcoin,if they make some kind of regulation to allow it to be traded and buy and sell making the companies collect a fee to them well im pretty sure bitcoin would be into another level.

[Kozlov]

Lack of real Bitcoin infrastructure in the places where people actually spend money - i.e. supermarkets, bars, nightclubs, strip clubs, coffee shops, etc.

Amazon accepting it would be a huge thing. It will take more corporate adoption before people are comfortable with it. Too many people still hold the negative associations from the 2012 era when all people were hearing was the 'deep web' and 'Silk Road' - as well as other lovely buzzwords like 'hitmen' and 'drug dealers'.

Bitcoin needs a bit of positive PR and a few killer apps.

[European Central Bank]

It needs big discounts for someone to even think about using it for the first time. Getting hold of it can be costly and inconvenient.

[tom555]

I believe the biggest reason besides lack of knowledge is fear, people are afraid of change, plus the fact that bitcoin are not physical unlike printed or minted currency. The average individual doesn't understand how digital currency works even though their own governmental currency is basically digital. The tangible will overshadow the intangible even if it is just an illusion.

[goinmerry]

I believe the biggest reason besides lack of knowledge is fear, people are afraid of change, plus the fact that bitcoin are not physical unlike printed or minted currency. The average individual doesn't understand how digital currency works even though their own governmental currency is basically digital. The tangible will overshadow the intangible even if it is just an illusion.

Right. People are looking for something to hold physically. And that is what government money is. You can hold it and you can use it anytime you want. Knowledge! That is what is missing. For those who have some extra funds they dont want to risk their physical money and putting  it online currency. They would rather put it in some investment like mutual funds or some equities.
Really need some knowledge when you want to let yourself in with Bitcoin.

[Amph]

another reason, it's because some do not know about the advantages(low fees) and some simply think that fiat can do everything already, they do not see it as a real alternative to usd or euro

can you blame them?

[Mickeyb]

I believe the biggest reason besides lack of knowledge is fear, people are afraid of change, plus the fact that bitcoin are not physical unlike printed or minted currency. The average individual doesn't understand how digital currency works even though their own governmental currency is basically digital. The tangible will overshadow the intangible even if it is just an illusion.

Exactly this! People are very afraid of change and even more when that change involves their finances. Simple as that. That's why Bitcoin will need much more time to prove itself and to earn the confidence from everyone. Also it will need to improve much more on its design, features, etc..

[Kate007]

I think fear. U'd be a bit of adventurer to use this currency

[makcik]

Bitcoins have always been simple and easy. But, still some people are afraid to use it and prefer staying over fiat. Here are some reasons.
(1) Bitcoins are used for illegal purposes too by illegal people for buying porn , selling drugs.
(2) They still feel that online transactions and wallet is not good (old minded thinking)
(3) Bitcoins usage is illegal in their country-- like in Russia and Taiwan.

[Altcoinmoney]

Well per example my mom, I tell her what is Bitcoin, how you get it, how it works.

Ans she still don't get it. So that's is why people don't get BTC.

[knowhow]

People must know and search about bitcoin to know it deeply ,the same happen with internet just some were able to use it ,now most of the people use it.Soo i suppose we are forcing people to get into bitcoin before they ready to enter,soo give time to time bitcoin will be making  only 7 years.

[goinmerry]

Well per example my mom, I tell her what is Bitcoin, how you get it, how it works.

Ans she still don't get it. So that's is why people don't get BTC.

It needs some good explanation. Maybe a little good conversation while having coffee. Or, you can send your Mom some bitcoins then tell her how you can spend this and how you can earn some of this. That will be a good start. If people see that they can spend this kind of money in real world that will be the time where they will be interested in something.

[erickimani]

there are many reasons not to use Bitcoin. the first reason is that many people dont trust the bitcoin. a larger population is composed of watchers. people who just wait and watch what will happen, they fear being the first to dive into something. another reason is that no one is being paid using this bitcoins, how do they acquire them? the process is too complicated for many people. My local supermarket doesn't accept bitcoins, if they did then most people would use them. Most people who have bitcoins have them only as an investment but not to transact, if people hold them that much then the flow is not good. thanks

[davinchi]

there are many reasons not to use Bitcoin. the first reason is that many people dont trust the bitcoin. a larger population is composed of watchers. people who just wait and watch what will happen, they fear being the first to dive into something. another reason is that no one is being paid using this bitcoins, how do they acquire them? the process is too complicated for many people. My local supermarket doesn't accept bitcoins, if they did then most people would use them. Most people who have bitcoins have them only as an investment but not to transact, if people hold them that much then the flow is not good. thanks

Before trusting bitcoin people must know what is bitcoin. I believe the lack of knowledge on bitcoin is the bigggest stopping off people using bitcoin.
People will hold bitcoin until they get some profit. Holding bitcoin will not affect the flow bitcoin as lot of bitcoin are in flow and lot of bitcoin are generated in every 10 minutes.

[chiajw1]

Things stopping people from using bitcoin is because of the government. The decentralized policy makes most of the transaction pseudonymous, it is transparent but does not state the sender and receiver. Some of us does not believe that the bitcoin can change the way the currency works, just like the old days where no one believes in internet. Just need time for everyone to adopt it.

Actually it is a very complicated question and it is not solved by few answers, but need much survey and research. This is just my opinion..

[gripflierGO]

Things stopping people from using bitcoin is because of the government. The decentralized policy makes most of the transaction pseudonymous, it is transparent but does not state the sender and receiver. Some of us does not believe that the bitcoin can change the way the currency works, just like the old days where no one believes in internet. Just need time for everyone to adopt it.

Actually it is a very complicated question and it is not solved by few answers, but need much survey and research. This is just my opinion..

Government factor is the one thing and the most important factor that I believe is that the price fluctuation of bitcoins is too difficult to handle. Looking at the price fluctuations people hesitate in investing or using bitcoins as they feel that they would have to suffer from losses in the near future but if the price is stable than more and more people would start using bitcoins.