What's the point of Circle, Bitpay and so on?

[voos]

As far as I know. Bitpay is here to allows merchants to accept bitcoin easily. Without bitpay dont expect bitcoin to be supported by so many online meechants today. One good example is gyft.

Why do we need those that cannot handle a bitcoin payment to support Bitcoin?

[gentlemand]

Why do we need those that cannot handle a bitcoin payment to support Bitcoin?

Because they've got the customers and the marketing clout to open it up to further adoption, not that it seems to have worked all that well so far. If it was crypto only we'd only be able to use it to buy alpaca socks still.

[1990BEARS]

Bit pay processes payments, circle is no longer based around Bitcoin I do not think

[gentlemand]

Circle is no longer based around Bitcoin I do not think

It's as Bitcoin as ever but they're pushing the dollar angle more. There may reach a point where it's running their operation but there's very little or no  mention of it rather like Abra.

[avatar_kiyoshi]

As far as I know, Bitcoin is supposed to be about ease of use, p2p money, fast, uncompromised, decentralized. What's the point of "payment processors" or whatever those services are called, when to use Bitcoin, all you need is to download a wallet, create any addresses you like, and start receiving payment for your work/pay others for their work? (or donating, or whatever you want to do with your money) without needing to give any personal details, and without the permission of anyone.

What the hell is really "Bitpay" and why is that a market?

Bitpay is a tools for a merchant who want to accept bitcoin and bring it to mainstream stage.
they have a useful tools for merchant to accept bitcoin in their platform.

[Light]

Those payment processors are basically there to make selling bitcoin (or buying), into your currency, easier for small/large businesses.
It allows businesses the ability to convert their btc faster than waiting for someone to come to their store and say,
"I see you sell rare books, do you also happen to have some btc for sale?". Most businesses still need to pay bills or employees in regulated currencies.

Bitpay for example, is about converting your "pay check" into bitcoin, I think with direct deposit into bitpay banks accts.

This is a solid explanation. Right now the way I see it is that these services act as a crutch - they help to prop up Bitcoin but they also prevent it from moving forward. The way Bitcoin works right now is it is seen more as a commodity (and an unstable one at that) rather than a currency. So merchants still want the business that comes with accepting it as a payment method without the risk of fluctuating value - and so they use Bitpay etc. as a means of getting fiat - while "accepting" Bitcoin. In reality though - it's just an onsell - Bitcoin isn't acting as a currency where it is accepted then kept and spent.

[Amph]

As far as I know. Bitpay is here to allows merchants to accept bitcoin easily. Without bitpay dont expect bitcoin to be supported by so many online meechants today. One good example is gyft.

Why do we need those that cannot handle a bitcoin payment to support Bitcoin?

the same way we need women to accept bitcoin, because those categories are the majority, if bitcoin remain full of nerd geek and what not, it won't grow ever

you need those that are not interested , this is true for everything actually

[Kakmakr]

They are the bridge between Bitcoin being legal and Bitcoin not being legal in some countries. Take the USA for example, IF you adhere to all the AML/KYC regulations, and these companies have to, then they accept it as being legal. <The unofficial version> These companies put the <legal> back in Bitcoin and they also bring the centralization back to make sure the NSA can track all the information they need from one location. ^joking^

No, let's be honest <They make Bitcoin idiot proof> Uhmmm User-friendly.  ^hmf^