What is the critical point above which bitcoin is officially mainstream?

[cuddaloreappu]

Now with newegg accepting bitcoins, and every news channel reporting bitcoin, all the action happening around, can we officially claim bitcoin has entered mainstream?

If not, then what is the critical point above which we can officially declare bitcoin has gone mainstream?

[cuddaloreappu]

When you are blowing cocaine up a hooker's ass. On a beach. Every day.

you mean both the coke and hooker purchased with bitcoin?

[Dogtanian]

I think we'll know when it's hit mainstream. It hasn't currently but has started to break through. I think when you can spend it in a few shops in the mall or on the street and many major retailers such as Amazon and ebay accept it then we'll be at mainstream adoption.

[sevenz]

what was the critical point above which the internet was officially mainstream?

The answer is only known in retrospect.

In terms of the internet, I would say the web became more mainstream when browsing services like AOL dumbed down the concept of being online to people making it a "no think, just point and click" zone.

I think systems such as CoinBase have been trying to do just that, but it's not quite there yet.

[lihuajkl]

Nearly every merchants accept BTC payment essentially  along with existing card payment. Employees are happy to take BTC salary.

[kokojie]

When both amazon and walmart accept it, all the previous merchants are big for us, but tiny compared to amazon/walmart, they do like 1% of their sales volume.

[commandrix]

Possibly when you get as much lending and borrowing with Bitcoin as you do at the banks and credit unions, when you can buy a cupcake for a little bit of Bitcoin at most bakeries, and when you can start buying stocks and bonds with Bitcoin.

[Dogtanian]

what was the critical point above which the internet was officially mainstream?

The answer is only known in retrospect.

In terms of the internet, I would say the web became more mainstream when browsing services like AOL dumbed down the concept of being online to people making it a "no think, just point and click" zone.

I think systems such as CoinBase have been trying to do just that, but it's not quite there yet.

The internet took quite a while to become mainstream but technology moves 10 times as fast nowadays, not to mention obviously bitcoin is built around the internet. There will be services or payment processors that make it easier for people to use that's for sure. I don't think it's as complicated as many people make out though.

[Guido]

when a large dinosaur payment processor like western union or paypal feels like it has to incorporate or get totally left behind
and/or ebay adding

think that will fuel a rush of normal people buying and multiple merchants accepting on a daily basis

I personally don't think that far off. later in year

I also still think we'll be in $1500 range inside 2 months

[Nautica]

when a large dinosaur payment processor like western union or paypal feels like it has to incorporate or get totally left behind
and/or ebay adding

think that will fuel a rush of normal people buying and multiple merchants accepting on a daily basis

I personally don't think that far off. later in year

I also still think we'll be in $1500 range inside 2 months

Alright, MEGACOIN.

[waldox]

mainstream is when bitcoin replaces usd as world reserve currency

[franky1]

main stream when these questions all answer yes
1) find a stranger and ask them, do they know what bitcoins is? (stranger because you probably told people you know, so unfair)
2) ask the stranger if they know someone that has used bitcoin?
3) can you use it as part of your daily life?
4) can you reach a merchant without having to drive 50 miles+


some area's of the world will be mainstream far before others. EG facebook and mcdonalds is not mainstream in parts of Africa, but certainly is in america.

bitcoin is getting there in parts of the US, but not every city..

but world mainstream is when those 4 questions aply to everyone. (which i do not expect for a few more years).

so just concentrate on mainstreaming your own area, and let the rest of the bitcoiners/world concentrate on their area's to then combine and become world wide main stream.

i think someone smart once said, dont worry about the rest of the world, just concentrate on your own little area, if everyone just concentrated on their own area,.. the whole world will be a better place

[justusranvier]

Bitcoin will be mainstream when the last central bank closes its doors.

[franky1]

Bitcoin will be mainstream when the last central bank closes its doors.

Euro is mainstream, but dollar still exists.. eurozone didnt need to kill american banks for euros to go mainstream...
it just means that euros are mainstream in europe.

going mainstram does not mean nothing else can live. mainstream means anyone can access and use it. and it can co-habitate.

killing off the banks is AFTER mainstreaming. we first need to mainstream to offer average joe the alternative. then the banks can get shut down

[Ron~Popeil]

When you can use it just about anywhere it is main stream. Credit card acceptance is nearly universal. I would consider that a decent benchmark. 

[Skele]

Bitcoin will be mainstream when the last central bank closes its doors.

That will never happen, or still a long way to replace fiat completely.

I believe Bitcoin will be used worldwide, as a better, faster and safe way to move money, selling, buying and making transactions; but classical paper bartering will still a little longer, at least in places or countries with poverty problems.

[jbrnt]

I would summarise mainstream for bitcoin is "when shops expect a drop in sales if they do not accept bitcoin as payment". It is like going into a shop today and they do not accept credit cards.

[maxl]

I think Bitcoin gets mainstream when everybody can use it for their daily business like paying at the supermarket with bitcoin. Or on the gas station and so on.

[Beliathon]

When you are blowing cocaine up a hooker's ass. On a beach. Every day.

you mean both the coke and hooker purchased with bitcoin?

No, he means cocaine, hooker, and private island were purchased with bitcoin.

[Robert Paulson]

when bitcoin does at least 50 transactions per sec (that's what paypal does).
we are at 0.8...