How did you get your first bitcoin?

[MikeD]

I bought my first (and only) Bitcoin about 3 weeks ago.

I wanted to upgrade my account on NZBsRus.com to a VIP account and they only take Bitcoins, so I opened an account with Coinbase and bought a Bitcoin with money from my bank.  Then I sent the Bitcoin to NZBsRus and got my VIP account.

Now I am exploring the prospect of trading Bitcoins for UK PaySafeCards, which I need to maintain my subscription to a Usenet server in the Netherlands.

Simply a means to an end.

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[tresyeti]

Bought 20 off EBay about 2 months ago. Definitely an expensive way to get started.

[xelaecon]

My first coin was a gift from a fellow miner who wanted me to get involved... it certainly worked as I soon started investing via coinbase

[dpcman]

Earned BTC10 for a web design project 

[jetsettosocal]

I mined it with a friend lol

[AndrewJ]

I buyed my first bitcoin(s)

[Got BTC]

Referrals

[Midnight Man]

A five-day-newbie here, and I haven't yet obtained my first bitcoin.  I've a few fractions of one though!

Why I'm here is simple - this is a very unique "experiment" (and I use the word in quotes, because I can't think of the right word).  When you consider all of the various traditional payment systems we use - credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, fiat currency in general, they all fit into a paradigm we're comfortable with - even though we shouldn't be.  And we shouldn't be, because these systems are outside of our control, the rules can be changed at will, and not by us.  And the powers that be can (and have) decided to erode the value of these currencies with their continual printing of more fiat.

This is *almost* like growing up knowing the world is flat, and then having the opportunity to take part in a voyage that will prove it isn't so.

Here we have, with Bitcoin, a non-inflationary currency system, with clearly defined rules, and a decentralised control system that no "powers that be" can change for their own advantage.

The more you stop and think about it - the more incredible and brilliant the design and outcomes of the design become.

I'm not here to make a few shekels of fiat, I'm sad I didn't discover this a long time ago, but glad I have now.  Call this silly if you will, but I grabbed an ATI 6xxx card second hand today, just to set up a mining client on a box in the corner to eke out a few bitcoins just to be part of the whole thing, and perhaps one day, to be able to actually spend a few coins on something, knowing I *earned* those coins.

Yes, I know about ASIC's etc - this isn't a money making thing for me, it's a participation thing

[notme]

A five-day-newbie here, and I haven't yet obtained my first bitcoin.  I've a few fractions of one though!

Why I'm here is simple - this is a very unique "experiment" (and I use the word in quotes, because I can't think of the right word).  When you consider all of the various traditional payment systems we use - credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, fiat currency in general, they all fit into a paradigm we're comfortable with - even though we shouldn't be.  And we shouldn't be, because these systems are outside of our control, the rules can be changed at will, and not by us.  And the powers that be can (and have) decided to erode the value of these currencies with their continual printing of more fiat.

This is *almost* like growing up knowing the world is flat, and then having the opportunity to take part in a voyage that will prove it isn't so.

Here we have, with Bitcoin, a non-inflationary currency system, with clearly defined rules, and a decentralised control system that no "powers that be" can change for their own advantage.

The more you stop and think about it - the more incredible and brilliant the design and outcomes of the design become.

I'm not here to make a few shekels of fiat, I'm sad I didn't discover this a long time ago, but glad I have now.  Call this silly if you will, but I grabbed an ATI 6xxx card second hand today, just to set up a mining client on a box in the corner to eke out a few bitcoins just to be part of the whole thing, and perhaps one day, to be able to actually spend a few coins on something, knowing I *earned* those coins.

Yes, I know about ASIC's etc - this isn't a money making thing for me, it's a participation thing

GPU mining is still reasonable if you can put the heat to use.  When it warms up outside, my mining cards will be shut off until next winter though.

[QualitySeeds]

Hi there...

I got my first Bitcoin about a year ago when a friend that mined sold it to me sow i could buy something with BTC

after that i mined with six 5750 cards

And know I pre-orderd the Single Sc and some Jalepeno just for the fun

And i'm still earning Bitcoins on my Website where i sell a pretty large amount of marijuana seeds

[addi]

I got my first bitcoin through payed traffic. Shortly thereafter bought them directly through an exchange.

[ICantThinkOfaName]

Walmart wire transfer to Mt Gox.

[Xnives99]

Just Mined it yesterday. x1 7970 670mh/s took 2 weeks 

[DrBiTC]

Mined litecoins then sold them for bitcoins

I just learned about LiteCoin. I guess the newbie forum was a good place for me 

[freifallspoiler]

I got my first 6 coins at from a Dutch guy at localbitcoin.com via SEPA transfer. The site offers an escrow service and you can check the seller's ratings in order to decide about his trustworthyness.

[polrpaul]

Bitcoin Faucet site.

[lookingforphone]

I mined them with my home server Atom cpu.

[hephaist0s]

Mined them!

[doghouse]

Tried to mined them with a cheap graphics card. Got as far as BTC0.02 then paid for a Casascius coin from ebay!

[spartacusrex]

Blockchain.info

Nice site. Used the Bank Transfer. Worked very well, and was quick to boot.