How can we make BTC mainstream?

[Natoshi Sakamoto]

A straightforward solution: http://

[Nobitcoin]

How about getting all the major supermarkets to accept bitcoin.... Then the banks will have to listen since no one will be using cash and also need more bitcoin credit cards in order to pay for the shopping.

And how do you propose we do this

Well that's my plan... Implementing is a different kettle of fish... But probably involve changing where they buy stock from and giving them cheaper products if bought with bitcoin.

[MrPiggles]

How about getting all the major supermarkets to accept bitcoin.... Then the banks will have to listen since no one will be using cash and also need more bitcoin credit cards in order to pay for the shopping.

And how do you propose we do this

Well that's my plan... Implementing is a different kettle of fish... But probably involve changing where they buy stock from and giving them cheaper products if bought with bitcoin.

So first we need to monopolize basic food stuffs, then we'll force super markets to pay us in bitcoin.

This is foolproof

[btcB2]

I email escorts and escort agencies and ask them if they accept bitcoin (prostitution is legal in most of Europe) BTC is perfect for them and their customers; eventually they will all accept it, and when that happens the value will rise and a lot of businesses will start accepting it.

Think about the internet, cable TV or the old VCR, they all got popular because of pornography. Think about money; like Aristotle once said: 'If women didn't exist, all the money in the world would have no meaning'.

I don't think BTC is the exception. Of course we need better technology or easier ways to convert money into BTC, but those will come in time.

[mr smith]

It would be possible one day until then this would do it

1, find a very rich friend
2, give $100m to help get the president elected
3, smile two weeks later it's mainstream

[romang]

It will happen on its own.

[TitanBTC]

Not to self-aggrandize here, but we have a ton of feedback that tells us that owning a lovely physical bitcoin gets people excited about the future of bitcoin more than most things. 

I give them away as gifts to people that were previously unacquainted with bitcoin and they often come back with questions and new ideas for bitcoin related businesses.

If you need bitcoin evangelism tools, we're makin' 'em. 

[zimmah]

1. Perspective of big profit

2. Stable price

Please note that these two points contradicts each other  

I remember when PayPal was just a baby and no one would trust them with their fiat.

Today many people use paypal because it's convienent, not because it's trustworthy.

You can't have profit and a stable price at the same time. Either the price is stable and it's a good store of value, or the price is fluctuating and you can make profit.

Besides, neither of them is the true power of bitcoin. The true power of bitcoin is being a real form of money, unlike fiat. Because the amount is limited and the right to produce more bitcoin is not in the hands of a single entity. It's much like gold, except it's less heavy.

[amspir]

You can't have profit and a stable price at the same time. Either the price is stable and it's a good store of value, or the price is fluctuating and you can make profit.

Yes you can.  It should be stable so it acts more like a bond rather than a penny stock.   Stable, long-term investors will make a profit, day traders need to go back to pink sheet stocks.

Bond-like growth will encourage adoption.  Pump-and-dump games harm it.

[Beliathon]

A straightforward solution: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=526012.0

This seems like a decent solution. Just start measuring everything in satoshis rather than in full Bitcoins.

I've heard many friends say to me, "I'd rather buy DOGE, it's soooo much cheaper", to which I can only shake my head in disgust.

[KenJackson]

It should be stable so it acts more like a bond rather than a penny stock.   Stable, long-term investors will make a profit, day traders need to go back to pink sheet stocks.

If you think about how you would define "stable" you'll probably decide it must include fixing the price of bitcoin to some fiat currency like the USD.  And that would defeat it's purpose.

The stability of the ratio of USD to BTC will approach the stability of USD to other currencies as BTC's use increases.  As long as we don't have any boneheads in Congress or the Whitehouse try to wrongfully usurp control of it, it'll proceed just fine.

[Nathonas]

If a major business accepts Bitcoin (the likes of Amazon, bestbuy, etc) then that should create an environment where the other companies are pushed to accept it as well so they don't get left behind. Especially if this first business gets a noticeable boost in profits because of it. But the problem is, I think, that the corporate world is like one giant impenetrable monolith in alliance with banks and the people in control of this monolith are hostile to bitcoin for many reasons. Which is why we haven't seen a truly major brand accept it yet.

[amspir]

If a major business accepts Bitcoin (the likes of Amazon, bestbuy, etc) then that should create an environment where the other companies are pushed to accept it as well so they don't get left behind. Especially if this first business gets a noticeable boost in profits because of it. But the problem is, I think, that the corporate world is like one giant impenetrable monolith in alliance with banks and the people in control of this monolith are hostile to bitcoin for many reasons. Which is why we haven't seen a truly major brand accept it yet.

I think I just read something about Bestbuy (online) and Newegg accepting bitcoin through Zinc

[ryanmnercer]

If a major business accepts Bitcoin (the likes of Amazon, bestbuy, etc) then that should create an environment where the other companies are pushed to accept it as well so they don't get left behind. Especially if this first business gets a noticeable boost in profits because of it. But the problem is, I think, that the corporate world is like one giant impenetrable monolith in alliance with banks and the people in control of this monolith are hostile to bitcoin for many reasons. Which is why we haven't seen a truly major brand accept it yet.

I think I just read something about Bestbuy (online) and Newegg accepting bitcoin through Zinc

That's not them accepting it, that's a company (zincsave) ordering for you after you pay them.

[jeppe]

By putting stikkers up everywhere we go for others to see

[franky1]

How about getting all the major supermarkets to accept bitcoin.... Then the banks will have to listen since no one will be using cash and also need more bitcoin credit cards in order to pay for the shopping.

since obama forced mastercard to stop processing retail transactions in russia.. i think that would be the biggest advert a retailer would like to see

[amspir]

since obama forced mastercard to stop processing retail transactions in russia.. i think that would be the biggest advert a retailer would like to see

You are misinformed.  Obama put sanctions on a Russian bank owned by one of Putin's inner circle.  This particular bank was denied access to the visa/mastercard payment network.   It is not all Russian banks, nor is it all visa/mastercard transactions in Russia.

[franky1]

since obama forced mastercard to stop processing retail transactions in russia.. i think that would be the biggest advert a retailer would like to see

You are misinformed.  Obama put sanctions on a Russian bank owned by one of Putin's inner circle.  This particular bank was denied access to the visa/mastercard payment network.   It is not all Russian banks, nor is it all visa/mastercard transactions in Russia.

ok ill white out comments below which are not related to mainstreaming, (highlight the area to read it)
edit my comment:
obama forced mastercard to stop processing retail transactions of RUSSIAN banks.. i think that would be the biggest advert a retailer would like to see.

but still research harder.
obama has no control of russian banks.. again obama asked MASTERCARD to not do retail transactions for russian banks. the 'other' banks you talk of are not russian government banks(putins inner circle as you call it).. EG HSBC russian bank branches are unaffected as they are not russian, even though they have branches in russia..

the peoples accounts with RUSSIAN owned banks are still accessible in branch and ATM. but they cannot use them for retail purchases.

also research the fact that the sanctions did not cause the ban of mastercard use, the sanctions worked as a penalty and then as a separate order. he banned putins inner circle from dealing with american companies. this was done by telling mastercard to stop dealing with putins inner circle.

he fined 1 bank due to the russian circle link
he banned 2 banks from dealing with mastercard

imagine it like getting a parking ticket(sanction).. you have to pay it, but it wont stop you driving your car. but having a authority tow your and your wifes car(mastercard ban), will do the job.(separate activities, separate forms of punishment)

want other analogy to use..
a fine for trespassing (into crimea)
a restraining order (to not interact with US companies.)

but back to the main point.. if america can mess around with peoples retail habits in a country thousands of miles away... then retailers need better solutions

[Bitcoin General Store]

Bitcoin will make itself mainstream because it is a superior currency. It doesn't need any marketing campaign.

This.

Just a few weeks ago when I was waiting in line to process some paperwork for the Bitcoin General Store, the person behind me noticed the word "Bitcoin" on my paperwork and asked me about it. Before you know it, I was giving a short explanation to him and the guy in front of me about how it worked and the advantages over traditional currencies.

Then, last week, a business associate with whom I have never discussed cryptocurrencies noticed the BTC wallpaper on my phone and blurted out "You have bitcoins?!" Next thing you know, I'm debunking some of his misconceptions regarding Mt. Gox and other recent events in the news.

It's happening. Be patient and be ready to answer questions.

[RobFordWotWot]

Government break silence, coin replaces bitcoin.