The Hassle of Using Bitcoin In Everyday Life

[GreenBits]

Is it just me?

Save using gift cards, or the rate app portal, I basically have no choice but to use a bitcoin debit card if I actually want to spend my BTC. I have never actually seen a real store that actually accepts bitcoin. At least a brick and mortar. I live in NC, near the SC border. save the Research Triangle, bitcoin is still absolutely unknown in these parts. Is it better in more metropolitan areas, or is this pretty much the case across the whole US?

[w5pn73]

It's not just you, I feel exactly the same, just a hassle.
To the point I'd rather deal with FIAT.

[webmastax]

In my country bitcoin is an not an option. You can only spend fiat here.

[aTriz]

Is it just me?

Save using gift cards, or the rate app portal, I basically have no choice but to use a bitcoin debit card if I actually want to spend my BTC. I have never actually seen a real store that actually accepts bitcoin. At least a brick and mortar. I live in NC, near the SC border. save the Research Triangle, bitcoin is still absolutely unknown in these parts. Is it better in more metropolitan areas, or is this pretty much the case across the whole US?

Yeah I face the same issue, whenever I want to make a purchase I am forced to use my debit card or just paypal. I can't make any transactions using Bitcoin online and in real life, I haven't ever seen a "Bitcoin Accepted Here" sign ever.

It just isn't an option in my country and other countries, even if Bitcoin was to be accepted, transaction fees would be too much.

[SUDARMONO]

yes I myself do admit it is not too much, store stores that provide payment by using bitcoin, maybe not in your own region, in my region also there is no store payment provider using bitcoin, most bitcoin for online payment ,, my suggestion do you need to go to the metropolitan city to get a store service that serves payments using bitcoins.

[Cormoran]

Is it just me?

Save using gift cards, or the rate app portal, I basically have no choice but to use a bitcoin debit card if I actually want to spend my BTC. I have never actually seen a real store that actually accepts bitcoin. At least a brick and mortar. I live in NC, near the SC border. save the Research Triangle, bitcoin is still absolutely unknown in these parts. Is it better in more metropolitan areas, or is this pretty much the case across the whole US?

I live between New York and Philadelphia; even in the cities, I haven't come across any places that accept bitcoin. Like you said, bitcoin-linked debit cards are basically the only option right now if you want to actually spend your bitcoin; selling them on an exchange is quick, but then you have to transfer the money out, which takes at least a day. It's not ready to be used for everyday transactions large-scale yet anyway, transactions are far too slow. Nobody wants to wait an hour and a half for 3 confirmations just to pay for their groceries. Running errands would be impossible without planning it all out hours before.

[orions.belt19]

Well, you're situation is definitely better than in my country. There's no Bitcoin debit cards, and just like you there are no actual stores which accept Bitcoin as a payment system. Not many people know about Bitcoin as well, and you'd have to exchange your BTC into fiat for you to be able to spend it. The bitcoin users in my country aren't given that much options either.

Anyway, I plan to hold my bitcoins rather than spend so I don't mind that much. Also, the local exchange wallet provides fast and easy service for those who want to exchange their BTC into local fiat currency.

[The Sceptical Chymist]

OK, every time I spend bitcoin I instantly regret it.   Lately that is. And that's because of the deflationary nature of it.  There's no way in hell you'll catch me complaining about the dearth of merchants that accept it.  I'd much rather use fiat for buying stuff and keep btc in my wallet.   Does anyone feel the same?

I did buy some junk silver recenty--and here we are pushing $5000!  I don't regret it,  but that shows you the opportunity cost of spending btc.

[Cloud27]

For me it is not a hassle, despite it is not known to many in our place and you can count on your fingers a store that accepts bitcoin as payment. It is about perspective, why we have to force bitcoin that is it not yet ready, or our community to adopt it. Use bitcoin where it is accepted, bitcoin is a digital currency and it is very useful in an online transaction. It is very inconvenient for me to go outside and make a long bee line to make a payment for a single bill. That scenario makes hassle for me.

[iamTom123]

Is it just me?

Save using gift cards, or the rate app portal, I basically have no choice but to use a bitcoin debit card if I actually want to spend my BTC. I have never actually seen a real store that actually accepts bitcoin. At least a brick and mortar. I live in NC, near the SC border. save the Research Triangle, bitcoin is still absolutely unknown in these parts. Is it better in more metropolitan areas, or is this pretty much the case across the whole US?

I find it ironic that you guys in a very developed country like USA are finding it hard in dealing with Bitcoin. And amazingly, here in my country things are getting better and better though we still do not have many merchants dealing with Bitcoin we can easily convert our Bitcoin into cash anytime and there are already many ways in placed for us to receive the money fast.

Well, your experience can be the big reason why many Bitcoin holders would prefer to just hold it like an investment or an asset rather than use it in everyday transactions. It would still take many years before we can an explosion of merchants especially those who are just around the corner to accept Bitcoin as it is now more of a speculative tool or something to invest with because we are anticipating for the value to  rise fast.

[erickkyut]

For me, using Bitcoin in everyday life is not a hassle but rather a convenience. There are no stores either localnor online in our country that accepts Bitcoin but I can convert it into fiat before using it. It is giving me an extra hand in my daily expenses. Aside from that, I'm earning more from it rather than my current job. Bitcoin is a blessing and convenience for me.

[GreenBits]

I find it ironic that you guys in a very developed country like USA are finding it hard in dealing with Bitcoin. And amazingly, here in my country things are getting better and better though we still do not have many merchants dealing with Bitcoin we can easily convert our Bitcoin into cash anytime and there are already many ways in placed for us to receive the money fast.

Well, your experience can be the big reason why many Bitcoin holders would prefer to just hold it like an investment or an asset rather than use it in everyday transactions. It would still take many years before we can an explosion of merchants especially those who are just around the corner to accept Bitcoin as it is now more of a speculative tool or something to invest with because we are anticipating for the value to  rise fast.

I wonder about this too. The more we hold because its so hard to spend, the more the price goes up (well that and the ceaseless enthusiasm of bitcoin investors). The higher the price goes up, the less feasible it is to use bitcoin as money, given the fees. Im starting to think bitcoin isnt really appropriate for day to day transactions; in this price range, it really is better served being a store of value rather than a currency. We will be spending satoshis if we keep this unsustainable price growth up.

And due to AML/KYC in the states, if you convert btc to fiat electronically, you are looking at base three days until you see cash. If you use any other method (in person, bank deposits via LBC), you run a risk of being scammed, or at the least, having your funds held during an escrow dispute for some unknown amount of time.

[cpfreeplz]

I live in an area where people will never accept bitcoins. People live off of welfare and child tax benefits. They'll never be able to understand what they're missing out on. This is why it's hard to spend bitcoins in everyday life, no one understands them yet. Not well, I'll be able to buy lots in 20 years!

[Nakakapagpabagabag]

Is it just me?

Save using gift cards, or the rate app portal, I basically have no choice but to use a bitcoin debit card if I actually want to spend my BTC. I have never actually seen a real store that actually accepts bitcoin. At least a brick and mortar. I live in NC, near the SC border. save the Research Triangle, bitcoin is still absolutely unknown in these parts. Is it better in more metropolitan areas, or is this pretty much the case across the whole US?

Here in our country bitcoin is not yet an option if you will pay for foods or items or transportation.  But we can always topup our phones using bitcoin and even makes it easy for us to pay our bills without going in lines.  But as to everyday transactions like buying foods and grocery it is not an option.

[Golftech]

That's really annoying when you can't use it the way it should be, lucky for me cause even bitcoin isn't available to use paying groceries or restaurant our local exchange allow us to pay our bills so its convenient for me to use bitcoin so I don't need to fall in line and being hassled but just a click away and everything are settled.

[fizzy79]

Definitely give it time. Bitcoin has been around for quite a while, but for the general public it is still quite new. Countless comparisons have been made to the 1990s, when the Internet started generating buzz. If we knew then what would be possible only a few years later, we probably wouldn't have believed it. Look at credit cards before and after tap payments were introduced. Before that technology, I always used to wonder why they couldn't streamline that process to do away with swiping and entering pass codes.

Anyway, the point is, if history repeats itself (which it is known to do), this problem won't be a problem for too much longer.

[zeze18]

Over time of course the bitcoin development that continues to experience a positive improvement will be accompanied by improvements in the bitcoin system to provide convenience and convenience to the user in making the transaction.

[jtipt]

In my country bitcoin is an not an option. You can only spend fiat here.

That's correct, in most of the countries there isn't an option to use BTC everywhere. It's just on the Internet and that too very few sites. TBH as far as ease of use is concerned then fiat is way lot easier to use.

[krishnapramod]

Is it just me?

Save using gift cards, or the rate app portal, I basically have no choice but to use a bitcoin debit card if I actually want to spend my BTC. I have never actually seen a real store that actually accepts bitcoin. At least a brick and mortar. I live in NC, near the SC border. save the Research Triangle, bitcoin is still absolutely unknown in these parts. Is it better in more metropolitan areas, or is this pretty much the case across the whole US?

In India Bitcoin adoption is rapidly increasing and the government is even planning to legalise it, but still merchant adoption is somewhat nil. Unocoin, India's one of the leading bitcoin exchanges have partnered with a couple of online stores to accept bitcoin and recently one of the restaurants in a metropolitan city started accepting bitcoin, that's it. Only one physical store accepting bitcoin in India.

[Anonaneadone]

There is no hussle for me in this bitcoin.
The only hassle for me in bitcoin is when i realize how much waste time and being late in holding a bitcoin.