Bitcoin press hits, notable sources

[Boussac]

If some big social network (hmm, who might that be?)

facebook

or a big social network game manufacturer (hmm, and who might that be?)

nfi... someone enlighten me?

Zynga ?

[Piper67]

Didn't see this one posted, so here it is:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204136404577209241595751130.html

The End of Cash, by David Wolman.

[Nefario]

Kind of related, article by bitcoin media about Esquire mag in Russia being fined for covering SilkRoad.

http://bitcoinmedia.com/russian-esquire-magazine-fined-for-writing-about-silk-road/

[MoonShadow]

Seems Richard Stallman is not following bitcoin.

Who is he?

RMS?  He's the guy who invented root-mean-square, right?

[ArticMine]

Seems Richard Stallman is not following bitcoin.

Who is he?

If one wishes to learn about RMS a good place to start is http://www.gnu.org/gnu/gnu.html as it covers the history of the GNU project and Free Software. Another good site is the FSF http://www.fsf.org/

[payb.tc]

If some big social network (hmm, who might that be?)

facebook

or a big social network game manufacturer (hmm, and who might that be?)

nfi... someone enlighten me?

Zynga ?

ah okay never heard of them... i guess they make facebook games

[MoonShadow]

If some big social network (hmm, who might that be?)

facebook

or a big social network game manufacturer (hmm, and who might that be?)

nfi... someone enlighten me?

Valve Games

[genjix]

Bitcoin Media: The Brave New World of Mobile Payment

"The recent MobileMoneyAfrica Summit showed impressively just how far ahead Africa is compared to the developed world when it comes to mobile payment. Of necessity, of course: Mobile phones are ubiquitous there, but only a minority of Africans hold a bank account. There are already serious efforts under way to create a truly cashless society. Very predictably, many western companies are rushing in to partake in this market. Most successful so far is Vodafone’s implementation, called M-Pesa."

By Ruediger Koch (anu)

[Stephen Gornick]

While the likes of Square, PayPal, Mobile Network Operators and others might think they can circumvent the current bank and payments infrastructure with the 'cloud' or IP networks, the reality is that the need for auditability, security and cross-border interoperability means that complete circumvention of the banking system isn't going to happen in the next few years.

Movenbank, Simple, PayPal, Square, Dwolla, BitCoin and others are working at disrupting not the networks or infrastructure, but the friction in the system.

 - http://www.finextra.com/community/FullBlog.aspx?blogid=6350

[Nefario]

While the likes of Square, PayPal, Mobile Network Operators and others might think they can circumvent the current bank and payments infrastructure with the 'cloud' or IP networks, the reality is that the need for auditability, security and cross-border interoperability means that complete circumvention of the banking system isn't going to happen in the next few years.

Movenbank, Simple, PayPal, Square, Dwolla, BitCoin and others are working at disrupting not the networks or infrastructure, but the friction in the system.

 - http://www.finextra.com/community/FullBlog.aspx?blogid=6350

I was at a banking conference in London on Tuesday and heard the guy from Movenbank speak, actually for a "bank" they're quite good, you can use your Facebook profile to open an account with them.

There was also a Japanese banker (Mitsubishi bank spinoff) where new accounts are created by using mobiles to snap pics of ID's n stuff for the needed KYC.

Then there was a boring French banker that was like "we're banks, people NEED us, we'll be around for some time so we're not changing". Talk about conservative.

[cypherdoc]

While the likes of Square, PayPal, Mobile Network Operators and others might think they can circumvent the current bank and payments infrastructure with the 'cloud' or IP networks, the reality is that the need for auditability, security and cross-border interoperability means that complete circumvention of the banking system isn't going to happen in the next few years.

Movenbank, Simple, PayPal, Square, Dwolla, BitCoin and others are working at disrupting not the networks or infrastructure, but the friction in the system.

 - http://www.finextra.com/community/FullBlog.aspx?blogid=6350

While many argue correctly that the new players sit on top of existing infrastructure to build their businesses, what they neglect to address is that we probably only need 30-50% of the players in the system right now to provide that vital infrastructure. The rest are superfluous.

these new players are us; the early adopters.

[bitcool]

http://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2012/03/cashless_society_can_you_enjoy_a_strip_club_without_cash_.single.html
It looks like pimpcoin needs to have some marketing work done.

[genjix]

Bitcoin Media: Juice Rap News joins Bitcoin’s struggle

"Juice Rap News relies heavily on viewer support and is fortunate to receive donations from people all around the world – it helps us to remain completely independent.

Most donations, however, come to us via PayPal (booo), and since the illegal banking blockade on WikiLeaks, in which PayPal still participates, we have become more and more uncomfortable with this situation. Over the past year we have also been receiving regular and sometimes rather insistent emails asking why on earth we were not accepting Bitcoin donations. (“Do you accept them?! If not, will you?” – is one of the latest)."

By Giordano & Hugo (JuiceRapNews)

[cypherdoc]

Bitcoin Media: Juice Rap News joins Bitcoin’s struggle

"Juice Rap News relies heavily on viewer support and is fortunate to receive donations from people all around the world – it helps us to remain completely independent.

Most donations, however, come to us via PayPal (booo), and since the illegal banking blockade on WikiLeaks, in which PayPal still participates, we have become more and more uncomfortable with this situation. Over the past year we have also been receiving regular and sometimes rather insistent emails asking why on earth we were not accepting Bitcoin donations. (“Do you accept them?! If not, will you?” – is one of the latest)."

By Giordano & Hugo (JuiceRapNews)

someone mentioned that while it is seemingly good that they accept donations it would be more preferable if some of these companies or organizations actually invested in the Bitcoin community itself.

[genjix]

Broke artists dressed in drag making rap videos invest in bitcoin? They are begging for donations. I hardly think of them as an investor. No, the message they give out for the minimal cost they accrue (supported by voluntary patronage) is fantastic! I'm super happy they are making such high quality videos for really cheap AND accepting bitcoins.

Or would you prefer them to sing about Celebrity and Starbucks and instead those bitcoin donations they got, instead go towards speculation on MtGox and paying MagicalTux's debt (which he still hasn't paid back to many). I think this is a great use of bitcoins (funding culture and the internet), and the main reason I got into it. It demonstrates to an outside audience that bitcoin is more than drugs, paedophiles, money laundering and organised crime. Bitcoin is world changing, and Juice Rap New's lyrics echo the world changing sentiments of these times.

I cannot think of a better use for bitcoins possible now.

[pastory99]

Bitcoin Media: Juice Rap News joins Bitcoin’s struggle

"Juice Rap News relies heavily on viewer support and is fortunate to receive donations from people all around the world – it helps us to remain completely independent.

Most donations, however, come to us via PayPal (booo), and since the illegal banking blockade on WikiLeaks, in which PayPal still participates, we have become more and more uncomfortable with this situation. Over the past year we have also been receiving regular and sometimes rather insistent emails asking why on earth we were not accepting Bitcoin donations. (“Do you accept them?! If not, will you?” – is one of the latest)."

By Giordano & Hugo (JuiceRapNews)

someone mentioned that while it is seemingly good that they accept donations it would be more preferable if some of these companies or organizations actually invested in the Bitcoin community itself.

This could be a huge benefit but would have a major impact. Do we want these companies or organizations running the bitcoin community as well?

[molecular]

someone mentioned that while it is seemingly good that they accept donations it would be more preferable if some of these companies or organizations actually invested in the Bitcoin community itself.

This could be a huge benefit but would have a major impact. Do we want these companies or organizations running the bitcoin community as well?

What are you talking about? This is not some big organization, but basically some aussie dude (a very knowledgeble and cool one, but nevertheless) and his friends making insightfull rap news videos. They need some donations for costumes and stuff. The best they could do in terms of helping the community is to mention bitcoin in one of their vids. The community is running itself quite well.

[BitcoinBug]

Could Bitcoin Become the Currency of System D?

Bitcoin is barely three years young. Any bootstrapped currency initially will have a chicken-and-egg problem due to the fact that a currency’s overall success is determined by its network effect and pervasive spread. Critics of bitcoin as a currency are quick to point out that not many merchants accept it as a payment type yet. That will change. And, they also point out that the total available market is severely limited. Oh, how wrong!  Bitcoin’s first potential mega-market just so happens to be the second largest economy in the world and its sole competitor in that sphere is depreciating government paper cash. Game on.

[bbit]

No mention of bitcoin but GAME ON!

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57399610/sweden-moving-towards-cashless-economy/

[cbeast]

http://www.gwern.net/Bitcoin%20is%20Worse%20is%20Better

It may be that Bitcoin's greatest virtue is not its deflation, nor its microtransactions, but its viral distributed nature; it can wait for its opportunity. "If you sit by the bank of the river long enough, you can watch the bodies of your enemies float by."

and laugh...