Not Enough Ways To Use Bitcoins In The Real World

[tristan_luther]

That is not to say that the internet is not real, but to make a distinction between internet businesses and those that exist primarily in the physical world. I believe wide acceptance of BTC in real-world transactions is necessary in order for it to reach its full potential. According to the websites that list real-world businesses that accept BTC as payment, there are only a few hundred such businesses in the world. Clearly, this needs to increase by orders of magnitude.

How to bring about this change? Following is a brief description of a system/business that could help this happen:

An integrated, online app-computer system to facilitate real-world (as opposed to internet), point-of-sale transactions quickly and conveniently. Customers and merchants would register accounts on the internet and download sync-able apps on their mobile devices. Customers deposit BTC into their accounts. Transactions are conducted through apps; merchant enters price in BTC or local currency, customer checks details and confirms transaction. Funds are then released to merchant BTC address or bank account.

An online, geographical registry (craigslist-like) of all real-world businesses that accept payment through this system. Businesses that register would provide location and contact information and have a page to display their own advertisements.

Businesses would be motivated to join by the free advertising and the access to a market segment with rapidly growing purchasing power. Sales and marketing efforts could also be made to spread awareness of the benefits and encourage adoption.


Is there an entity or group of entities working to create something like this?

[1714058099]

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[1714058099]

1714058099

[The Bitcoin Co-op]

That is not to say that the internet is not real, but to make a distinction between internet businesses and those that exist primarily in the physical world. I believe wide acceptance of BTC in real-world transactions is necessary in order for it to reach its full potential. According to the websites that list real-world businesses that accept BTC as payment, there are only a few hundred such businesses in the world. Clearly, this needs to increase by orders of magnitude.

How to bring about this change? Following is a brief description of a system/business that could help this happen:

An integrated, online app-computer system to facilitate real-world (as opposed to internet), point-of-sale transactions quickly and conveniently. Customers and merchants would register accounts on the internet and download sync-able apps on their mobile devices. Customers deposit BTC into their accounts. Transactions are conducted through apps; merchant enters price in BTC or local currency, customer checks details and confirms transaction. Funds are then released to merchant BTC address or bank account.

An online, geographical registry (craigslist-like) of all real-world businesses that accept payment through this system. Businesses that register would provide location and contact information and have a page to display their own advertisements.

Businesses would be motivated to join by the free advertising and the access to a market segment with rapidly growing purchasing power. Sales and marketing efforts could also be made to spread awareness of the benefits and encourage adoption.


Is there an entity or group of entities working to create something like this?

We're about to do something like this in Vancouver: www.bitcoincoop.org

[Bitcoinpro]

Their will be soon enough stay focused and stay committed Rome wasn't built in a day

[pengcqu]

I think so.

[Anon135246]

It'll come. More and more (online) stores are accepting bitcoin.

[chipug]

It'll come. More and more (online) stores are accepting bitcoin.

Ebay have posted a video explaining bitcoin to their news blog, maybe they are considering opening up to bitcoin too....

[victorhing]

Also, not forgetting the Bitcoin ATMs: http://business.time.com/2013/09/12/coming-soon-to-america-bitcoin-atms/

[Professor James Moriarty]

 If all of your needs are covered with dollar you can always change your coins to dollars , as long as you invest in bitcoins and support the idea behind it , I dont think anyone would shame you for changing your coins into dollars when needed.

 Tough I believe recent events of 300 stores and so on did made a difference over it. Now we can use coins on many stuff thanks to that gifty stuff. I can talk as a person who lives in a country who has like couple hundred bitcoiners that It is harder for us to use it.

[tristan_luther]

That is not to say that the internet is not real, but to make a distinction between internet businesses and those that exist primarily in the physical world. I believe wide acceptance of BTC in real-world transactions is necessary in order for it to reach its full potential. According to the websites that list real-world businesses that accept BTC as payment, there are only a few hundred such businesses in the world. Clearly, this needs to increase by orders of magnitude.

How to bring about this change? Following is a brief description of a system/business that could help this happen:

An integrated, online app-computer system to facilitate real-world (as opposed to internet), point-of-sale transactions quickly and conveniently. Customers and merchants would register accounts on the internet and download sync-able apps on their mobile devices. Customers deposit BTC into their accounts. Transactions are conducted through apps; merchant enters price in BTC or local currency, customer checks details and confirms transaction. Funds are then released to merchant BTC address or bank account.

An online, geographical registry (craigslist-like) of all real-world businesses that accept payment through this system. Businesses that register would provide location and contact information and have a page to display their own advertisements.

Businesses would be motivated to join by the free advertising and the access to a market segment with rapidly growing purchasing power. Sales and marketing efforts could also be made to spread awareness of the benefits and encourage adoption.


Is there an entity or group of entities working to create something like this?

We're about to do something like this in Vancouver: www.bitcoincoop.org

Excellent work. Good luck to you.

[doof]

I too am looking at ways brick and mortar stores can take payments.  Once my POC is up, i will socialise it.

[tristan_luther]

I too am looking at ways brick and mortar stores can take payments.  Once my POC is up, i will socialise it.

I will definitely donate to anyone who creates and shares something valuable like this, and I am sure many others will do the same.

[davidgdg]

Nice though it would be to see bitcoin logos in every shop front, the reality is that bitcoin is ideally suited to online transactions, so that is where we should be pushing for maximum adoption. Bricks and mortar will follow.

[franky1]

I too am looking at ways brick and mortar stores can take payments.  Once my POC is up, i will socialise it.

if you have £$1,000 FIAT to your name, then YOU can become their BTC->FIAT broker..

most retailers wont do more then £$1,000(of BTC trade) in a single day* so setting up a system where your website evaluates a price and sends an API to the retailer containing a BTC value and an address, can be childsplay.

once in receipt of BTC you then pass the retailer the fiat funds and then sell you newly received BTC to replenish your 'reserves'.

don't think that you need to have hundreds of millions of dollars upfront... well not unless your getting into bed with something like walmart, but local retailers may have one customer a day doing an on average £$30-£$70 transaction. (as low as £$2 for a coffee or as high as a couple hundred for electronics)

* based on the WELL under 0.1% of world using BTC currently

[faiza1990]

Their will be soon enough stay focused and stay committed Rome wasn't built in a day

yes agree its need too much and commitment then its stabilize

[SheHadMANHands]

Not Enough Ways To Use Bitcoins In The Real World

This is like saying "we should ditch this internet idea because there aren't enough places to shop online" 20 years ago. 

Dat der vision

[tristan_luther]

Not Enough Ways To Use Bitcoins In The Real World

This is like saying "we should ditch this internet idea because there aren't enough places to shop online" 20 years ago.  

Dat der vision

Did I say anything about ditching bitcoin? I only want to see progress; I am in this for the long-term.

[mises]

That is not to say that the internet is not real, but to make a distinction between internet businesses and those that exist primarily in the physical world. I believe wide acceptance of BTC in real-world transactions is necessary in order for it to reach its full potential. According to the websites that list real-world businesses that accept BTC as payment, there are only a few hundred such businesses in the world. Clearly, this needs to increase by orders of magnitude.

How to bring about this change? Following is a brief description of a system/business that could help this happen:

An integrated, online app-computer system to facilitate real-world (as opposed to internet), point-of-sale transactions quickly and conveniently. Customers and merchants would register accounts on the internet and download sync-able apps on their mobile devices. Customers deposit BTC into their accounts. Transactions are conducted through apps; merchant enters price in BTC or local currency, customer checks details and confirms transaction. Funds are then released to merchant BTC address or bank account.

An online, geographical registry (craigslist-like) of all real-world businesses that accept payment through this system. Businesses that register would provide location and contact information and have a page to display their own advertisements.

Businesses would be motivated to join by the free advertising and the access to a market segment with rapidly growing purchasing power. Sales and marketing efforts could also be made to spread awareness of the benefits and encourage adoption.


Is there an entity or group of entities working to create something like this?

I think it will take a while for people to buy into using BTC. Mostly because it seems kind of a "nerdy" thing, and not cool like most of us here think about it. People and countries are slow to change but I'm willing to bet that this type of currency will be used worldwide eventually in the future.

[tskweres]

Changing the way the world transacts isn't easy! Bitcoin & other cryptos will become more widely used as time goes on, companies continue to innovate, consumers become aware and use the coins and so on. Right now crypto is still in its infancy, so consider yourself an early early early early adopter.