Who will be first major player to accept bitcoins in UK?

[piggybank]

Maybe, but it's fine for smaller retailers. They can just hold the Bitcoin themselves. Maybe they'll see it as an investment.

Unless they're got a really strong interest in Bitcoin, it's really unlikely they will want to hold (can you blame them?).

All the retailers I've spoken to as part of my day job really have way to many other things to worry about. Even reduced txn fees don't seem to be a big draw and the variable indoors 3G coverage between networks make in person payments very difficult to demo convincingly.

[guybrushthreepwood]

Maybe, but it's fine for smaller retailers. They can just hold the Bitcoin themselves. Maybe they'll see it as an investment.

Unless they're got a really strong interest in Bitcoin, it's really unlikely they will want to hold (can you blame them?).

All the retailers I've spoken to as part of my day job really have way to many other things to worry about. Even reduced txn fees don't seem to be a big draw and the variable indoors 3G coverage between networks make in person payments very difficult to demo convincingly.

Why not? If they're only making minimal money from Bitcoin sales just keep it and see how much it's worth in a few months or later in the year. If the price is going to gradually rise they'd be silly to spend it.

[btbrae]

It probably won't be a company that's been around a long time as they tend to become stale. Newer companies tend to be much more open to fresh ideas and have a keen eye on ways to achieve market share. They also have a smaller business model and are faster on their feet; they make changes much easier and don't need to push things through several layers of management. Large store chains / supermarkets, forget it, they will be the last.

[piggybank]

Why not? If they're only making minimal money from Bitcoin sales just keep it and see how much it's worth in a few months or later in the year. If the price is going to gradually rise they'd be silly to spend it.

I agree with your logic, but most businesses I've spoken to are far more concerned about running their business than speculating on a currency. Definitely it depends on the sector, but for example, retail & entertainment certainly are not currently interested.

[guybrushthreepwood]

Why not? If they're only making minimal money from Bitcoin sales just keep it and see how much it's worth in a few months or later in the year. If the price is going to gradually rise they'd be silly to spend it.

I agree with your logic, but most businesses I've spoken to are far more concerned about running their business than speculating on a currency. Definitely it depends on the sector, but for example, retail & entertainment certainly are not currently interested.

I'm sure those businesses wont, but if you own a bar or a cafe and put a Bitcoin sign in your window I guarantee you will get a bit of interest and extra customers. You might only sell a few items in Bitcoin a month, but that's the experiment and hopefully their custom in BTC will grow along with Bitcoin adoption.

[pawel7777]

That's an easy one. It's got to be Virgin. R Branson apparently is the BTC enthusiast + Virgin has a reputation for being innovative and ahead of everyone else.

http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/bitcoins-in-space

[guybrushthreepwood]

That's an easy one. It's got to be Virgin. R Branson apparently is the BTC enthusiast + Virgin has a reputation for being innovative and ahead of everyone else.

http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/bitcoins-in-space

Maybe, but that's a bit of a niche market. I think only one person has paid via Bitcoins so far. Hopefully he will accept them in some of his other business ventures though.

[zachcope]

Unfortunately the UK is the home of the banksters so there won't be much enthusiasm from banks to let bitcoin companies bank with them.
In the end that doesn't matter though as the banks will die or have to change when fiat collapses.

[qfdev]

Can't think of any big UK businesses that would have the ballz to implement BTC. There's very little innovation in UK PLC, that's why we have all these big US companies like Google and Amazon coming in and filling the gap. Seriously I will poke myself in the eye with a sharp object if Asda are the first to implement Bitcoin  

[gentlemand]

Unfortunately the UK is the home of the banksters so there won't be much enthusiasm from banks to let bitcoin companies bank with them.
In the end that doesn't matter though as the banks will die or have to change when fiat collapses.

I think it'll be one of the last developed countries to get much of a Bitcoin ecosystem. The US, despite the lack of exchanges and banking problems, is light years ahead of the UK.

[Mowcore]

Can't think of any big UK businesses that would have the ballz to implement BTC. There's very little innovation in UK PLC, that's why we have all these big US companies like Google and Amazon coming in and filling the gap. Seriously I will poke myself in the eye with a sharp object if Asda are the first to implement Bitcoin  

As much as that would suck balls, it would be a be grand FU to my sada work colleagues who think I'm crazy when I talk about my increasing bitcoin wealth lol.

[qfdev]

Britain is a nation of shopkeepers! That's where the BTC revolution needs to start, don't expect anything from the fat cats and plutocrats. They're not in the slightest bit interested in Bitcoin.

[guybrushthreepwood]

Britain is a nation of shopkeepers! That's where the BTC revolution needs to start, don't expect anything from the fat cats and plutocrats. They're not in the slightest bit interested in Bitcoin.

Britain is a nation of plebs lol (and I'm from the UK). But I agree that BTC needs to start with small shops and business first to gain some traction, although a few big businesses would be nice as well.

[gentlemand]

I've a feeling it'll be more of a grassroots thing for a while yet. The establishment will eventually, and probably very reluctantly, follow the US lead. I find it amazing how little we've heard from UK agencies in comparison to elsewhere.

Regardless of what happens here, it's not going to stop any UK holders making and spending a shit ton of wealth thanks to the more enlightened places.

[remotemass]

"Sainsbury's", "Just Eat", "Hungry House", "CeX" and "Cash Converters". Just a feeling!

I was not far off as CeX now accepts bitcoin across the UK and Just Eat as been considering it as well.

[LFC_Bitcoin]

"Sainsbury's", "Just Eat", "Hungry House", "CeX" and "Cash Converters". Just a feeling!

Good call on 'Just Eat' & 'Hungry House' .

I can see that.

[LFC_Bitcoin]

Until there's a GBP exchange that exists and actually works there won't be any big players. They're not going to wait for Bitstamp to carry out two currency conversions until they get GBP back.

It'll be down to the little people who stay in Bitcoin to make any retail progress here until it changes. The UK is a backwater for Bitcoin which is pathetic considering its standing as a financial hub.

Well you can buy sell coins in the UK on Bittylicious but I don't know whether you'd call them an exchange or just a place to buy sell BTC, but I don't think doing two currency conversations is such a big deal any way.

Bittylicious is really good.
You pay a little over the market price but I get my coins within 10 minutes via mobile banking app.

[jennifer21]

Amazon will be good.

[BitCoinNutJob]

Not a really a huge major player but i could see someone like the weatherspoons chain of pubs accepting bitcoin (pubs accepting bitcoin seems to be popular in other countries), which would be great because they are bloody everywhere in towns and citys.