All I can think about is Bitcoin. How to get more involved?

[sinner]

I've been playing poker professionally for about 5 years.  2 years ago i played online poker all day, studied the game, read poker forums, watched televised cash games, and played low stakes home games with friends.  But now the game bores me.  I still play for a living, but I do not have the same passion for the game anymore.

Now my passion is bitcoin.  All i think about all day is bitcoin.  all day im reading bitcointalk, r/bitcoin, #bitcoin tweets, several other sites, and i watch the price all day.

I have to get more involved in bitcoin but I dont know what to do.

- i want to mine; since you basically cant buy ASICs, i'm probably going to build a small GPU rig (i know its not very profitable--i dont care, i have to do this)
- i studied math and computer science in college, but i havent coded since i started playing poker.  i have saved up some money and i kinda wanna get back into programming
- i've brainstormed with friends about various bitcoin businesses to start but either the business already exists or theres a good reason it doesnt exist yet or its a project far beyond the scope of my capabilities
- i'm going to start going to local bitcoin meetups
- should i go to Bitcoin Conference in San Jose May 17-19?  I want to go, but I feel like i have nothing to offer

Thanks for any advice!

[greyhawk]

I've been playing poker professionally for about 5 years.  2 years ago i played online poker all day, studied the game, read poker forums, watched televised cash games, and played low stakes home games with friends.  But now the game bores me.  I still play for a living, but I do not have the same passion for the game anymore.

Now my passion is bitcoin.  All i think about all day is bitcoin.  all day im reading bitcointalk, r/bitcoin, #bitcoin tweets, several other sites, and i watch the price all day.

You might want to contact a therapist. This sounds pretty unhealthy.

[refaelsh]

I've been playing poker professionally for about 5 years.  2 years ago i played online poker all day, studied the game, read poker forums, watched televised cash games, and played low stakes home games with friends.  But now the game bores me.  I still play for a living, but I do not have the same passion for the game anymore.

Now my passion is bitcoin.  All i think about all day is bitcoin.  all day im reading bitcointalk, r/bitcoin, #bitcoin tweets, several other sites, and i watch the price all day.

I have to get more involved in bitcoin but I dont know what to do.

- i want to mine; since you basically cant buy ASICs, i'm probably going to build a small GPU rig (i know its not very profitable--i dont care, i have to do this)
- i studied math and computer science in college, but i havent coded since i started playing poker.  i have saved up some money and i kinda wanna get back into programming
- i've brainstormed with friends about various bitcoin businesses to start but either the business already exists or theres a good reason it doesnt exist yet or its a project far beyond the scope of my capabilities
- i'm going to start going to local bitcoin meetups
- should i go to Bitcoin Conference in San Jose May 17-19?  I want to go, but I feel like i have nothing to offer

Thanks for any advice!

1. Convince all Your friends to use Bitcoin: be the Missionary.
2. Go inside every local bushiness and ask them whether they accept Bitcoin. If not, walk away, or be the Missionary.

[sinner]

1. Convince all Your friends to use Bitcoin: be the Missionary.
2. Go inside every local bushiness and ask them whether they accept Bitcoin. If not, walk away, or be the Missionary.

1. i have done/am doing this.  i just got a friend to use silk road.
2. ok.  i shall spread the faith.

[Gordonium]

Now my passion is bitcoin.  All i think about all day is bitcoin.  all day im reading bitcointalk, r/bitcoin, #bitcoin tweets, several other sites, and i watch the price all day.

Same here. 

[sinner]

Start a business that is the only way to help bitcoin grow, but make it unique, something that hasn't been done with bitcoin.

makes sense. thank you

I also agree, go out, I don't even sit on my computer all day and do bitcoins and I am full time working on bitcoin projects, I once a week try to do something that is not related to computers at all. Walking, hiking, clubbing, partying (ok this is more than once a week, I actually got bottle service because of bitcoin ). But I feel you bitcoin is amazing in moderation just like things from the silk road or other things.

i suppose i gave slightly wrong impression.

Now my passion is bitcoin.  All i think about all day is bitcoin.  all day im reading bitcointalk, r/bitcoin, #bitcoin tweets, several other sites, and i watch the price all day.

Same here.  

god bless you sir.  i'm an atheist, but you know what i mean  

[Zomdifros]

Now my passion is bitcoin.  All i think about all day is bitcoin.  all day im reading bitcointalk, r/bitcoin, #bitcoin tweets, several other sites, and i watch the price all day.

Same here. 

Seconded. For the last six months, I've been trying to read everything I can find on Bitcoin. This is a revolution we are witnessing and I'm proud to be part of it. Only the last two weeks, with the price coming down, I'm able to focus on some other things like work and sleep.

Eventually, the obsession will go away somewhat and I will find other things to keep me occupied. If all goes well, I'll be financially independent in the near future so I'll have plenty of time as well.

[marcus_of_augustus]

You can ;

- play poker for bitcoin
- see if bitcoin poker sites want to take on rookie coder to gain experience (e.g. Seals with Clubs)
- check our "Project Development" section for bitcoin poker projects that might have openings
- just hack some Open Source bitcoins stuff for fun and play poker for bitcoins for a living
- day trade in your pyjamas on Mt. Gox .... <---- NO!

[sinner]

- play poker for bitcoin

i do

- see if bitcoin poker sites want to take on rookie coder to gain experience (e.g. Seals with Clubs)

- Seal Team 6 is a bunch of badasses and i am a noob
- Mavens Software (what Seals uses) is relatively cheap and i talked to a friend about starting a LTC site.. someone beat me to it (wsoltc.me).. but its a good example of how hard it is to build a poker site.. wsoltc has zero traffic
- i do post on twoplustwo and have written good stuff about Seals on there
- i post in Lock and Carbon threads on 2p2 about accepting bitcoin but those networks are broke

- check our "Project Development" section for bitcoin poker projects that might have openings
- just hack some Open Source bitcoins stuff for fun and play poker for bitcoins for a living
- day trade in your pyjamas on Mt. Gox .... <---- NO!

- need to relearn coding first but i'll check it out
- one of my friends has lost >50 bitcoins daytrading on Gox.  I keep telling him "NEVER SELL BITCOINS"

[HASS2WEB]

Same here, bitcoins are so addictive.

[jimbursch]

I'm looking for partners to help me develop MyMindshare, a commercial messaging system that I just converted to BTC. Feel free to contact me and we can talk about how to get you up and running with your own bitcoin business.

I also highly recommend a meditation practice to bring some calm to your high RPM mind.

[lettucebee]

I am also fascinated with bitcoin and its crypto cousins.  Other than owning them, I would like to invest in bitcoin businesses, even something as simple as mining.  Is there a website where prospective investors can go to find out who needs help?
Thanks.

[nebulus]

- should i go to Bitcoin Conference in San Jose May 17-19?  I want to go, but I feel like i have nothing to offer

Who cares? I got a feeling it's gonna be a good one.

[RenegadeMind]

I have to get more involved in bitcoin but I dont know what to do.

- i want to mine; since you basically cant buy ASICs, i'm probably going to build a small GPU rig (i know its not very profitable--i dont care, i have to do this)
- i studied math and computer science in college, but i havent coded since i started playing poker.  i have saved up some money and i kinda wanna get back into programming
- i've brainstormed with friends about various bitcoin businesses to start but either the business already exists or theres a good reason it doesnt exist yet or its a project far beyond the scope of my capabilities

For mining, expect to lose money, but just do it for fun and to learn. You will learn, and then it's just a cost of education. Think of it as buying a textbook.

I can identify with exactly what you're going through. While I'm not a poker player, I make my living in software, but have been thinking about how I can get deeper into bitcoin on a meaningful level.

You may not have coded anything in a long time, but the desire to get back in is powerful. I write software, and have been thinking myself about the exact same thing - writing BTC software - the lure is there.

If you're just getting back into programing, then I'd suggest that you look at the software that is available, where it is available, and look at what languages can best help you achieve what you want.

When I got back into programming, I just jumped in and didn't really consider the languages too much, when I probably should have.

Anyways...

There is a MASSIVE space open for BTC programming.

I do a lot of work for the top mobile phone company in the world, and I have access to truckloads of information that the public doesn't get to see for a long time. (I of course cannot give specifics due to NDAs.)

Right now, I'd say that there are incredible opportunities open in the mobile space for bitcoin software. Have a look there.

Your best ideas will be things that you probably can't execute, but just try going a bit smaller if you can't manage to get a team together, or if you can't get investment for bigger ideas.

BTC will be insanely big in mobile.

At the moment, I'm thinking about a few different components that I'd like to develop... but just not sure what I want to do. I'm already busy enough, so whether or not I can actually get a decent BTC app or component off the ground is a big question for me.

But do think mobile -- that is where it's at.

On the other side of the bitcoin, think about simple apps vs service-based apps. I really hate SaaS as I think it's just pure fucking whoredom gone berserk, but given the market... sigh... yeah... if everyone else is ass-raping customers, you might want to consider it as well. Mostly because the non-ass-rapers get pushed out of the market because consumers are so idiotic when it comes to software licensing.

There are lots of platform advantages as well. So, consider the platform and sign up for multiple platform developer communities to check out what they offer.

Anyways, I think that post was partly for me to think about what I'd like to do now, and not just for you. But I hope it's useful for you, and thank you for posing those questions!

[freequant]

And it's not only Bitcoin...
The whole financial system is totally archaic and badly needs to be rewritten from scratch.
There is a whole new industry in the making, and it's starting here.

So refresh your programming skills, and start working on crypto-currencies related stuff.
Even if your first Bitcoin business doesn't break even, you will still be very ahead of the curve, and in very advantageous position when the rest of the world realizes they need to hire crypto-currency developers at any cost.

[crazy_rabbit]

- should i go to Bitcoin Conference in San Jose May 17-19?  I want to go, but I feel like i have nothing to offer

Thanks for any advice!

Go to the conference, 100%. You will find it very inspiring. Most people there are just to listen and learn. You should go. I'll be there! (On the alt-coin panel).

[cdog]

Cool we have a lot in common, we've probably played together on Seals.

Im in a similar boat, Im looking to get more involved in BTC and LTC on the side of providing services and or products.

Im doing some coaching and getting paid in BTC (when possible), and some staking. I have a few other poker related ideas, but nothing Ive acted on yet. Also, poker is kind of a niche market, Im looking to do something that has a broader appeal. But #1 problem for me is I have ZERO programming skills and hiring good talent in the NYC area is prohibitively expensive, and my friends who are good are busy with work or other projects. Hard to find people making $200k a year who will throw in 25 hours a week for sweat equity (on top of their 50 hour workweek).

So, the simpler the better and I live in NYC and have friends in finance and venture capital so trying to figure out how to leverage that as well, but the most recent crash has given a case of the BTC heebie jeebies to a few friends. Speculating for profit is cool but Ive always been more of an entrepreneur than a trader - right now I just buy and hold because Borgata chips and $100 bills in a shoebox doesnt seem like a sound retirement plan.

[BinaryMage]

I've been playing poker professionally for about 5 years.  2 years ago i played online poker all day, studied the game, read poker forums, watched televised cash games, and played low stakes home games with friends.  But now the game bores me.  I still play for a living, but I do not have the same passion for the game anymore.

Now my passion is bitcoin.  All i think about all day is bitcoin.  all day im reading bitcointalk, r/bitcoin, #bitcoin tweets, several other sites, and i watch the price all day.

You might want to contact a therapist. This sounds pretty unhealthy.

Naw, he's just got an excess of grit, which is academia's sauce secrète of success du jour, so he should be fine, or a bit better, though the whole poker thing might impress them somewhat less.

The best suggestion I can give is to start doing things and stop posting on Internet forums. The former generally takes you places, the latter generally dumps you off on dimly lit street corners in Shanghai sans future prospects. Code; it doesn't matter what, just start typing. Launch a venture; even if it's been done already, it probably was either absolutely horrible or a complete scam. Go to all the meetups/conferences/Bitcoin-cum-poker-addicts-anonymous-meetings you can find even if you have nothing to offer; a unique perspective is worth more than you think, and you might find inspiration there.

[CasinoBit]

People are attracted to the Bitcion economy for different reasons, for me personally it's the deep belief that what we stand for as early adopters is the future utopian society, there is a serious lack of anarchism in the world, violence would be non existent in a society that doesn't let anyone down. Observe Silverback gorillas, these 500 pound behemoths with the strength of 12 average men have never been observed to be violent.

Sadly most people will not look at the other hand when demagogues will pull the old switch and grab and take your liberties away.

[Elwar]

Contribute with something from your own background.

If you play poker professionally you may want to work with someone on a poker tournament or something you are familiar with since you have a good understanding of what that world consists of.