The one thing I think the bitcoin economy needs badly is...

[RodeoX]

A trustworthy exchange. One that allows ACH and credit card purchases. One that is insured and professional. I hope the tax clarification will attract a new class of exchanges. Right now some are better than others, but none of them seem to be able to get their shit together. If just one company opens that can be trusted to buy or cash out in an hour. Then the real growth of bitcoin begins. 
Is anyone working on something like that? I'll be a customer. Hell, if your business plan makes sense I might invest in such a company.
Fell free to disagree or post your thoughts on what our economy needs.

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[Twilight_Sparkle]

What the bitcoin economy needs, and has needed for sometime, is an easy way to acquire coins, and places to spend them.

1. Much more convenient and saturated atms. There should be a atm at every convenience store, and it should take at worst a minute to get coins. Should be as smooth and numerous as redbox or coinstar.

2. Merchants....no explanation needed.

[halfawake]

A trustworthy exchange. One that allows ACH and credit card purchases.

Coinbase already does most of this.  They already allow ACH purchases.  They aren't, however, insured against bitcoin loss.  It happened once last year.  I was seriously thinking of implementing their API in a online site later on, but after seeing this, I'm not really particularly inclined to do so any more.  I really think this was one case where they were in the wrong for not refunding Jeff, since it sounds like it was a security hole in their site that caused the problem.

Given the issues of credit cards, I seriously doubt they'll ever be widely accepted at exchanges.

[waldox]

no more centralized exchanges please

we really need the next generation p2p exchanges

[BitOnyx]

It is free market so there are good exchanges. Just there are so many of them since some kids can just create website and pretend it is exchange

[RodeoX]

+1 to all of you.

When a normal person asks me about bitcoin i wish I could just refer them to an exchange with confidence. When I have tried in the past, I always end up on the phone helping them deal with the ridiculous tardiness of the exchanges. I just don't get it. It's not that hard to do a good job, and there is no reason why it should take them months to mail out a check.
Until we get our BTC ATMs and P2P exchanges I'll check out coin base again. Eventually someone is going to dominate this market with old fashioned customer service.  

[softron]

+1, bitcoin needs trusted exchangers right now

[bobdutica]

The main problem with getting speedier service from exchanges lies with the fiat money system itself. Transferring funds through bank transfers and credit cards is S-L-O-W, plus these transactions can be reversed, which could leave the excanges "holding the bag" if you reverse your credit card charge.
While Bitcoin transfers are fast and irreversible, credit cards and bank transfers are not.

[RodeoX]

The main problem with getting speedier service from exchanges lies with the fiat money system itself. Transferring funds through bank transfers and credit cards is S-L-O-W, plus these transactions can be reversed, which could leave the excanges "holding the bag" if you reverse your credit card charge.
While Bitcoin transfers are fast and irreversible, credit cards and bank transfers are not.

Those are good points. However my complaint is it taking weeks or even months to handle a money order. That's ridiculous considering I could have the job done in an hour. 

[Swordsoffreedom]

+1 to all of you.

We need people with knowledge skills and the ability to build the bitcoin network implement it and participate in it

[reckoner]

that would be a huge step forward.

[DPoS]

no more centralized exchanges please

we really need the next generation p2p exchanges

this myth again...   so how does fiat move between the traders?

direct ACH transactions between traders bank accounts over and over??  please elaborate

[twiifm]

no more centralized exchanges please

we really need the next generation p2p exchanges

this myth again...   so how does fiat move between the traders?

direct ACH transactions between traders bank accounts over and over??  please elaborate

You talking about FOREX? 

retail forex brokers
central banks
commercial businesses
banks

[bobdutica]

New hardware devices for Bitcoin wallets with more security built into the hardware itself. Current computers are far too easily hacked, and without extra care by the users their Bicoins can be stolen by hackers. This is OK for most current users, because most are knowledgeable enough to take precautions against hackers. Before Bitcoin can really go mainstream, however, the process of keeping Bitcoins secure but easily accessible needs to be more idiot-proof. Strong security for computing devices is much less vulnerable to hacking attacks when implemented into the hardware.