2013-07-10 Bitcoin.de announces partnership with Fidor Bank AG

[razibuzouzou]

http://blog.bitcoin.de/bitcoin-de-und-fidor-bank-ag-vereinbaren-weitgehende-partnerschaft

Here is a google translation of the main part :

Hi there,

Finally we announce the partnership with our partner bank :-) It is ... the Fidor Bank AG in Munich. In this direction, there were already some guesses and we had always nice bite on the lips, not to chat away to us ;-) For the first talks with Fidor are already some months back. Below before the actual press release that is sent in these minutes.

+ + First Direct Bank Cooperation in Europe Bitcoin area
+ + Fidor Bank AG provides liability umbrella for trading on Bitcoin.de Planned
+ + Fidor bank accounts for customers Bitcoin.de

Herford, 10 July 2013.

The Munich-based Fidor Bank AG assumes a far-reaching partnership with the Bitcoin marketplace Bitcoin.de. The listed online bank [WKN: A0MKYF / ISIN: DE000A0MKYF1] represents the Bitcoin Germany GmbH as the operator of the marketplace Bitcoin.de for the expansion of the business model a so-called umbrella liability are available and thereby lifts the Bitcoin trade in Europe to a new level.

With the start of the cooperation, activated with the still to be carried registering in banking supervision, Bitcoin Germany GmbH will handle as a "tied agent" of Fidor Bank AG trading of bitcoins for Fidor Bank AG Bitcoin.de.

Thus Bitcoin.de the first Bitcoin trading center in Europe with a direct bank cooperation and focuses on the financial market regulations such as the Money Laundering Act.

"With the Fidor Bank AG as a partner, the virtual currency Bitcoin is just 4 years from initially ridiculed internet gambling more and more money to the serious alternative currency." Says Oliver Flaskämper, CEO of Bitcoin Germany GmbH "As part of the cooperation with the Fidor Bank our customers in the coming weeks given the opportunity to act on a free checking account FidorPay Bitcoins in near real time on bitcoin.de. That's a big request of our more than 70,000 customers throughout Europe, "said Flaskämper on.

While customers of foreign exchange Bitcoin transfer their money usually not on insolvency protected company accounts abroad, the monies of bitcoin.de customers are on their own bank accounts with EU deposit guarantee of 100,000 euros per customer and account ever since. "In addition Bitcoin.de customers appreciate a German contact," says Oliver Flaskämper.

Just days ago, was cleared by a parliamentary inquiry of the German Parliament and member of the Finance Committee, Frank Schaeffler of the federal government that speculative gains after a holding period of one year are exempt from tax for individuals. So that Bitcoins are made fiscally speaking on the same level as gold.

Asked about the recent price declines Flaskämper Oliver says: "The first bubble we had in 2011 at 20 Euros and the second in 2013 at 200 euros. I think no Bitcoin investor would have a big problem with that, if we would see the next bubble in 2015 at 2,000 euros. One of the developers of Bitcoin, Gavin Andresen, had already predicted in mid-2010 up to five asset bubbles. Bitcoins are therefore not for the faint hearted and definitely not suitable for private pensions. This can be in 2-3 years but already very different. "

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[bitfair]

Browsing the webpage of the bank, I must say it looks like a really cutting-edge and innovative bank.

Do they accept customers outside of Germany?

[bitcoin_de]

Below you will find the English version of our press release.

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Bitcoin.de and Fidor Bank AG Agree on Large-Scale Partnership

+++ Fidor Bank AG provides liability umbrella for bitcoin trading on bitcoin.de
+++ First direct banking cooperation in the European bitcoin sector
+++ Fidor banking accounts planned for bitcoin.de customers

Herford, Germany, July 10, 2013.

Munich-based Fidor Bank AG enters large-scale partnership with the bitcoin marketplace "bitcoin.de".  The publicly-traded online bank [WKN: A0MKYF / ISIN: DE000A0MKYF1] will provide a so-called liability umbrella to Bitcoin Deutschland GmbH, the operator of the bitcoin.de marketplace, thereby bringing bitcoin trading in Europe to a new level.

As from the start of the cooperation, which will be activated upon the registration with the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority, Bitcoin Deutschland GmbH will become Fidor Bank AG's so-called "tied agent" to conduct the bitcoin trading for Fidor Bank AG on bitcoin.de.

Bitcoin.de will thus be the first European bitcoin trading platform with a direct banking cooperation and is following the financial market regulations, e.g. the anti-money laundering legislation.

"With Fidor Bank AG as our Partner, the digital bitcoin currency, which was initially smiled at as internet play money, is increasingly turning into a serious alternative currency after only 4 years ", says Oliver Flaskämper, managing director of Bitcoin Deutschland GmbH.  "In the context of this cooperation with Fidor Bank, in the weeks to come, our customers will be given the opportunity to trade on bitcoin.de in near real-time using a free FidorPay giro account.  This is a great wish of our over 70,000 customers in Europe", continues Flaskämper.

While customers of foreign bitcoin exchanges generally transfer their money to foreign company accounts that are not protected in the event of insolvency, the monies of bitcoin.de's customers have always been deposited in their own bank accounts that are covered by the EU deposit guarantee in the amount of 100,000 euros per customer and account.  "In addition, bitcoin.de customers appreciate a European point of contact", adds Oliver Flaskämper.

Only a couple of days ago, upon a Parliamentary question submitted by Frank Schäffler, Member of the German Parliament and the Financial Committee, to the Federal German Government, it was clarified that speculative profits become tax-exempt for private individuals after a holding period of one year.  From a fiscal point of view, bitcoins are hence placed on the same footing as gold.

When asked about the recent price declines, Oliver Flaskämper says: "The first speculative bubble occurred in 2011 at 20 euros, the second in 2013 at 200 euros.  I do not think that any bitcoin investor would consider it a big problem if the next speculative bubble burst in 2015 at 2,000 euros.  As early as in mid-2010, one of the developers of bitcoins, Gavin Andresen, predicted up to five speculative bubbles.  Bitcoins are not for the faint-hearted and they are not yet suitable for private old-age pension schemes.  This might be completely different, however, in 2 or 3 years' time."


About Bitcoin Deutschland GmbH:

Since 2011, Bitcoin Deutschland GmbH has been operating Germany's first and biggest marketplace for the trading of bitcoins by private individuals from the EU, EEA, and Switzerland on http://www.bitcoin.de/.  In this context, Bitcoin Deutschland GmbH acts as a trustee for the bitcoins posted for sale by the sellers and provides assurance to buyers that the bitcoins they acquire really exist.  In addition, the users can deposit their bitcoins on bitcoin.de free of charge.  Bitcoin Deutschland is planning to provide additional features like real-time trading via directly connected banking accounts or opportunities for online traders to use bitcoins as means of payment in the future.

Bitcoin Deutschland GmbH: Per Hlawatschek | Nordstr. 14 | 32051 Herford | Germany
Phone: +49 5221-85411-27 | Fax: +49 5221-85411-29 | presse@bitcoin.de


About Fidor Bank AG:

Fidor Bank AG (http://www.fidor.de) is an internet-based direct bank that is licensed to do business in Germany.  With the FidorPay Account, the bank targets both private and business customers.  As a primary bank account, the FidorPay Account offers traditional account features combined with internet payment and innovative banking offers.

The offer designed for business customers includes selected financing products as well as the FidorPay Corporate Account created especially for e-commerce purposes.  Fidor Bank AG efficiently uses the mechanisms of Web 2.0.  Apart from its own community, the bank uses all current social media platforms for its interactions and communications.  These include for instance:
 
- YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/FidorCommBanking)
- Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/fidorbank)
- Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/ficoba)
- XING (https://www.xing.com/net/ficoba)

FIDOR Bank AG: Nick Riegger | Sandstraße 33 | 80335 Munich | Germany
Phone: +49 89–189 085-157 | Fax: +49 89–189 085-199 | info@fidor.de


About Bitcoin:

Launched in 2009, Bitcoin is a digital currency that has no central management authority, uses peer-to-peer technology to issue bitcoins and manage transactions, and is suitable for international electronic transfers.  The bitcoin network is formed by the users who run a Bitcoin-Client (software) on a computer or mobile terminal.  Users can prove that they actually possess bitcoins by cryptographic keys.  Every bitcoin transaction between network users is provided with a digital signature and recorded in a public database operated by the entire network.  This ensures that bitcoins are unforgeable.  The digital currency units are independent of any state or central bank and are traded on various online exchanges and marketplaces and may be exchanged for U.S. dollars, pounds sterling, euros, and other currencies.  While a significant part of the bitcoin usage has so far presumably been of a speculative nature and exchange rates have been subject to considerable short-term fluctuations, besides small providers several widely known large online service providers serving several millions of users have now started to accept bitcoins as a means of payment.  In addition, Bitcoin is increasingly attracting interest as a means for storage of value due to the strictly limited quantity of bitcoins to be released in the long-term and due to its far-reaching independence from the traditional financial system.


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At present we can only accept customers residing in the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Cheers
Oliver

[phelix]

Surprisingly this news has not gotten the attention it deserves.

Hopefully bitcoin.de will become a real time exchange soon.

[Akka]

Surprisingly this news has not gotten the attention it deserves.

Hopefully bitcoin.de will become a real time exchange soon.

I'm often surprised which news get huge attention here and which don't.

I'm sure this will have a huge effect on Bitcoin (at least in Europe and especially in Germany.

Cant wait to be able to buy and sell Bitcoins directly from my bank account (at Fidor). This will make it so easy to get Bitcoins and liquidate them when you need €.

[joesmoe2012]

It appears they cannot verify people outside of Germany so there's a 2500 EUR limit.

Also, my pending orders (about 5 of them) were all automatically released (even though I had not yet verified the bank payments) because they now no longer allow americans.

[prophetx]

It appears they cannot verify people outside of Germany so there's a 2500 EUR limit.

Also, my pending orders (about 5 of them) were all automatically released (even though I had not yet verified the bank payments) because they now no longer allow americans.

so you need to be living in germany to get an account with bitcoin.de?  just curious because i am in sweden but may be in berlin in february

[Akka]

It appears they cannot verify people outside of Germany so there's a 2500 EUR limit.

Also, my pending orders (about 5 of them) were all automatically released (even though I had not yet verified the bank payments) because they now no longer allow americans.

so you need to be living in germany to get an account with bitcoin.de?  just curious because i am in sweden but may be in berlin in february

At present we can only accept customers residing in the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.