[PRESS RELEASE] Free State Project Now Accepting Bitcoins

[ineededausername]

Is there a number or estimate on how many people are on their mailing list?

Roughly 15k on the mailing list... so that many people will be getting a tiny microdonation in one week. Most will ignore or not care. Some will be marginally interested, and some very interested.

While it may be true that most people wouldn't care about bitcoin for 4 cents, these people know the importance of obsoleting the fed.  To them, bitcoin should have more meaning than 4 cents or even lower transaction fees.  The idea is what counts.

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[evoorhees]

Also submitted to free talk live http://www.freetalklive.com/content/free_state_project_sending_bitcoin_currency_thousands_members

If they mention it on the show can someone send me a clip ?

Chris Lawless called in tonight and mentioned it on the air, roughly 1/3 through the three hour program. The podcast will be available in a day or two for free.

I think when this bitcoin blast goes out next weekend, it'll be mentioned on the air again.

[Bitcoin Oz]

Now we need someone to setup a bitcoin table at the next porcfest?

http://porcfest.com/

Just like the FSP if we have a concentration of bitcoin users in one area its more likely that small businesses in the area will accept bitcoins.

Bitcoinland

[evoorhees]

Is there a number or estimate on how many people are on their mailing list?

Roughly 15k on the mailing list... so that many people will be getting a tiny microdonation in one week. Most will ignore or not care. Some will be marginally interested, and some very interested.

While it may be true that most people wouldn't care about bitcoin for 4 cents, these people know the importance of obsoleting the fed.  To them, bitcoin should have more meaning than 4 cents or even lower transaction fees.  The idea is what counts.

Yeah, the monetary value is irrelevant. The important part is that these people will A) know that the Free State Project accepts Bitcoins and B) be given a free ewallet (via BTCinch) to get started on their magical journey toward monetary sovereignty.

Many of the Free Staters are fully supportive of any kind of free market currency. But, they're understandably skeptical because Bitcoin is so new and they're not crypto-geeks, so it may take time for them to learn the system well enough to begin adopting it.

Also, this promotion is excellent because it demonstrates how Bitcoins can be used in ways which Paypal or other online payment methods cannot. We could not send a nickel's worth of value to 15,000 people using Paypal. Send someone a nickel and see what happens =)  Furthermore, we don't need any financial or private information of the subscribers to send the money... just their email address. We have no delay in payment transfer from our donor in Japan, and the fees are... zero. Basically, Bitcoin kicks ass and this was a fun new way to use it.

[gnar1ta$]

How do you send bitcoins through e-mail?

[error]

How do you send bitcoins through e-mail?

I'll let you know when I get mine.

Now we need someone to setup a bitcoin table at the next porcfest?

I hope you mean MORE tables than at the last PorcFest.

[bearbones]

How do you send bitcoins through e-mail?

I'll let you know when I get mine.

No need to wait. You can send Bitcoins through email through BTCinch. https://www.btcinch.com/wp-login.php?action=register

What we're doing with FSP is a bit different, however. Evoorhees mentioned that we only need the email addresses of the recipients, but I'd like to be more specific. The FSP is able to send this out through our service without giving us a single email address. We credit the accounts and give them recovery codes, then they send the claims out themselves.

[evoorhees]

Update on Oct 15 - Newsletter today sent to FSP mailing list of 15,000

Free State Project now accepts Bitcoin! (and you get some for free!)

READ THE SEPARATE PRESS RELEASE HERE

Some Free Staters have been hearing about Bitcoin – the new digital currency that has been gaining momentum, especially within the liberty movement. 

As of last week, the FSP is now set up to accept Bitcoin for donations as well as event registration fees (online store will soon follow). Additionally, everyone on the Free State Project mailing list (ie – anyone who received this newsletter) will be receiving a free Bitcoin donation tomorrow. Read on for more details…

What is Bitcoin?

Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency – it is not run by any company, organization, or government. It works using peer-to-peer technology, meaning transfers of the currency go directly between two parties instead of a central server. Its supply is strictly limited based on a predetermined algorithm, and there will never be more than 21-million Bitcoins in existence. Unlike fiat currencies, a Bitcoin’s value comes purely from supply and demand within an open marketplace. There is no central bank to inflate or deflate the money supply.

Bitcoins can be bought and sold at many online exchanges for national currencies, and can be used to purchase a growing number of goods and services all over the world.
Unlike gold or silver, Bitcoins can be sent between any two accounts anywhere in the world instantly, and you never need to use a name or any personal details to have an account. Bitcoins are private and generally anonymous. Bitcoins are held on your computer (or at an online “ewallet”) – and nobody can prevent a Bitcoin transaction from happening. 

You may have heard earlier this year when Wikileaks’ funding sources were getting shut down by Visa, Mastercard, and Paypal. Bitcoin cannot be shut down in such a way, meaning Wikileaks now always has a source of private, anonymous funding.

Bitcoin and FSP
Some liberty advocates are extremely excited about the prospects of this currency, and that is why the Free State Project has decided to incorporate it as a payment method for donation and event registration.   

To help you get started with Bitcoin, the ghost of Frederick Bastiat has donated the funds for us to give each of you a tiny amount. You will receive another email tomorrow with instructions. If you wish to claim your gift, you will get a free ewallet account with BTCinch.com (ewallets allow you to store your Bitcoins if you don’t wish to keep them on your computer). 
The more you learn about Bitcoin, the more this new currency may interest you as a tool for voluntary, free-market exchange. Feel free to join the “Free State Bitcoin Consortium” group on Facebook (run by Erik Voorhees). Or to investigate Bitcoin further, a good starting place is WeUseCoins.com

Watch out for the follow-up email tomorrow!

[netrin]

These guys are cool: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2011/06/29/137478762/the-tuesday-podcast-libertarian-summer-camp

[evoorhees]

Now shown on their homepage in the Spotlight section on top right:  http://freestateproject.org/

Send a donation if you like freedom!

[netrin]

I just donated, but it's not much fun getting a unique anonymous address. The public donation history is part of the motivation in any fund-raising campaign!

[Cryptoman]

Erik, you are awesome!  Now, if someone would just start a free state project in a more temperate state...

[FreeMoney]

Erik, you are awesome!  Now, if someone would just start a free state project in a more temperate state...

Yeah, sign me up for that.

[evoorhees]

Erik, you are awesome!  Now, if someone would just start a free state project in a more temperate state...

Hahaha yeah - many people will dedicate their lives to the cause of liberty... unless it's too cold sometimes! =)

[error]

Erik, you are awesome!  Now, if someone would just start a free state project in a more temperate state...

Yeah, sign me up for that.

What are you talking about? The weather is great here!

[BitcoinPorn]

So awesome seeing it up on their page so prominent, great support from this group.  I will only be saying positive things about New Hampshire in general from now on.

[doobadoo]

Dude, awesome, this is big.  Lots of new holders of Bitcoin coming up

But they are only giving away a trivial value?  They should raise more BTC and set up a claims method.  most on the mailing list won't bother to claim it anyhow.  those who do might claim 1 or 2 btc.  But i can't imagine any one getting excited over a bitcent.   

[netrin]

Is anyone a long term member of the group? Do they tend toward off-the-grid mountain men, silicon valley libertarians, a fair cross section of the population? I crawled around their forum (nearly all posts are pre-2009) and they seem an intelligent, thoughtful bunch. I wonder if our assistance would be perceived as coming from pr marketing infiltration or from like-minded peers.