the biggest problem with Bitcoin? Nobody uses it ...

[moriartybitcoin]

In 2011 I would ask random people on the street if they heard of Bitcoin.  The answer was invariably NO.

In 2014 I ask the same question, and the answer is usually YES.

Problem is, hardly anyone is actually USING Bitcoin to buy and sell anything but drugs.  It is popular for webhosting, VPS servers and narcotics - basically the same as 2011, except that more people have heard of it now.

For Bitcoin to become a mainstream currency, it needs to be used in mainstream transactions.  Presently I don't see this happening; Bitcoin auctions and classifieds sites are scarily dead, and hardly anyone is conducting in-person Bitcoin transactions for physical goods.  As Kashmir Hill notes, it's a little easier to live on Bitcoin this year, but still very much a challenge.

For mainstream adoption to occur, two things must happen:

A. Bitcoin must become easier to use and understand for the AVERAGE PERSON and
B. Brick-and-mortar businesses need an easy and sensible way to accept Bitcoin from their customers without being exposed to market volatility or double-spend risks

I'm always looking to invest in companies who want to make A and B a reality ..

[Bit_Happy]

Expedia booked more hotel rooms than expected with their new BTC option.
Dish network, Newegg, etc... Things are happening fast, and this is not still 2011. 

[Musent]

But one difference between 2011 and 2014, the value of BTC. Hard to argue that, right?

[BittBurger]

Problem is, hardly anyone is actually USING Bitcoin to buy and sell anything but drugs.

December 2013 called and wants its mantra back.

A. Bitcoin must become easier to use and understand for the AVERAGE PERSON and

The first batch of BTC startups are centered around making bitcoin easier to use.  This is already under way.

B. Brick-and-mortar businesses need an easy and sensible way to accept Bitcoin from their customers without being exposed to market volatility or double-spend risks

This is already happening.  Bitpay et all offer cashing out immediately.

I'm always looking to invest in companies who want to make A and B a reality ..

Oh.  You're spamming the forum. My bad.

[Musent]

In 2011 I would ask random people on the street if they heard of Bitcoin.  The answer was invariably NO.

In 2014 I ask the same question, and the answer is usually YES.

Problem is, hardly anyone is actually USING Bitcoin to buy and sell anything but drugs.  It is popular for webhosting, VPS servers and narcotics - basically the same as 2011, except that more people have heard of it now.

For Bitcoin to become a mainstream currency, it needs to be used in mainstream transactions.  Presently I don't see this happening; Bitcoin auctions and classifieds sites are scarily dead, and hardly anyone is conducting in-person Bitcoin transactions for physical goods.  As Kashmir Hill notes, it's a little easier to live on Bitcoin this year, but still very much a challenge.

For mainstream adoption to occur, two things must happen:

A. Bitcoin must become easier to use and understand for the AVERAGE PERSON and
B. Brick-and-mortar businesses need an easy and sensible way to accept Bitcoin from their customers without being exposed to market volatility or double-spend risks

I'm always looking to invest in companies who want to make A and B a reality ..

If you haven't seen companies using bitcoin, maybe you haven't read the news lately. A lot of places are adopting BTC as payment.

[Melbustus]

...As Kashmir Hill notes, it's a little easier to live on Bitcoin this year, but still very much a challenge...

That's not what she said:

It’s my last day of living on Bitcoin alone. It was not nearly as harrowing as the year before, when I lost five pounds and moved into a hostel. This year, my exhaustion on the last day comes from a week of late nights eating 17-course BTC-bought meals, going to exotic dance joints, and spending all day in the sun drinking wine. Bitcoin has gone mainstream in the past year, and so it is much easier, even luxurious (given the spike in its value), to live on it.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2014/05/12/living-on-bitcoin-a-year-later-the-all-bitcoin-start-up-with-no-bank-account/

[Bit_Happy]

...As Kashmir Hill notes, it's a little easier to live on Bitcoin this year, but still very much a challenge...

That's not what she said:

It’s my last day of living on Bitcoin alone. It was not nearly as harrowing as the year before, when I lost five pounds and moved into a hostel. This year, my exhaustion on the last day comes from a week of late nights eating 17-course BTC-bought meals, going to exotic dance joints, and spending all day in the sun drinking wine. Bitcoin has gone mainstream in the past year, and so it is much easier, even luxurious (given the spike in its value), to live on it.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2014/05/12/living-on-bitcoin-a-year-later-the-all-bitcoin-start-up-with-no-bank-account/

I missed that in May, and really like the quote.   
The BitBaby has grown up...

[nwfella]

But one difference between 2011 and 2014, the value of BTC. Hard to argue that, right?

b.i.n.g.o and Bingo was his name-o!

[keithers]

In 2011 I would ask random people on the street if they heard of Bitcoin.  The answer was invariably NO.

In 2014 I ask the same question, and the answer is usually YES.

Problem is, hardly anyone is actually USING Bitcoin to buy and sell anything but drugs.  It is popular for webhosting, VPS servers and narcotics - basically the same as 2011, except that more people have heard of it now.

For Bitcoin to become a mainstream currency, it needs to be used in mainstream transactions.  Presently I don't see this happening; Bitcoin auctions and classifieds sites are scarily dead, and hardly anyone is conducting in-person Bitcoin transactions for physical goods.  As Kashmir Hill notes, it's a little easier to live on Bitcoin this year, but still very much a challenge.

For mainstream adoption to occur, two things must happen:

A. Bitcoin must become easier to use and understand for the AVERAGE PERSON and
B. Brick-and-mortar businesses need an easy and sensible way to accept Bitcoin from their customers without being exposed to market volatility or double-spend risks

I'm always looking to invest in companies who want to make A and B a reality ..

I would say that Drugs are now actually one of the least of the uses of BTC.   I think it was a lot more prominent before, but everyday there is another company accepting BTC

[SomethingElse]

Nobody is using it (yet). 

That was also the problem with the early internet.

Still more and more growth is happening.

I do think the rate of growth needs to have a better curve. At this rate it will take a long time.

[spiceminer15]

i use it at tiger direct all the time

[SirKoin99]

As long as it keeps growing, there's no problem in my eyes.

And also, you forgot gambling from the list of what it's widely used for.

[littlewizard]

Mass adoption takes time. It may takes 5-10 years for a technology to be mass accepted.
Look at laptop, smart phones, etc.

[Neg]

A. Bitcoin must become easier to use and understand for the AVERAGE PERSON and
B. Brick-and-mortar businesses need an easy and sensible way to accept Bitcoin from their customers without being exposed to market volatility or double-spend risks

I'm always looking to invest in companies who want to make A and B a reality ..

A) The AVERAGE PERSON can use bitcoin. If you can work your creditcard or online banking you will know how to use a blockchain.info app (plus others).
B) There are several easy and sensible ways already. Payment processors protect against market volatlity by giving you the cash staright away for the transaction.

Please provide some real problems. 

[seriouscoin]

A. Bitcoin must become easier to use and understand for the AVERAGE PERSON and
B. Brick-and-mortar businesses need an easy and sensible way to accept Bitcoin from their customers without being exposed to market volatility or double-spend risks

I'm always looking to invest in companies who want to make A and B a reality ..

A) The AVERAGE PERSON can use bitcoin. If you can work your creditcard or online banking you will know how to use a blockchain.info app (plus others).
B) There are several easy and sensible ways already. Payment processors protect against market volatlity by giving you the cash staright away for the transaction.

Please provide some real problems.  

The real problem is ......he is a scammer. His business, Bitplastic, is a fraud. Search on this forum and you will see.

Welcome to my ignore, OP.

[Finchy]

So he's just trolling? He doesn't have any negative feedback.

[seriouscoin]

So he's just trolling? He doesn't have any negative feedback.

Alot of scammers on here even have perfect feedback.

[yatsey87]

Regarding the op though regardless of whether he is trolling or not, people are obviously using it and this number is growing everyday. We can't expect bitcoin just to become mainstream overnight. A steady growth is far safer and easier for people to get used to. It also gives us more time to aquire more coins in the meantime .

[AliceWonder]

Almost everyone has heard of the Bunny Ranch, but few people use it.

I guess that means Dennis Hoff should shut it down even though it has made him millions. Clearly it is a failure.

[medUSA]

Problem is, hardly anyone is actually USING Bitcoin to buy and sell anything but drugs.

Using a currency is not only about buying tangible products, it is about buying services too.

You see members here hiring for design work, program code, advertising, domain names, voucher codes... These are real business activities and bitcoin is USED as a payment system. The products are usually digital goods because shipping a physical product is expensive. If you want figures for larger retailers:

Overstock CEO Patrick Byrne Reports $1.6 Million in Bitcoin Sales
http://www.coindesk.com/overstock-ceo-patrick-byrne-1-6m-bitcoin-sales/

Expedia says Bitcoin usage has exceeded expectation (No revenue figures)
https://coinreport.net/expedia-says-bitcoin-usage-exceeded-expectation/

So, "hardly anyone" is certainly not true, I would put it as "not enough".  

A. Bitcoin must become easier to use and understand for the AVERAGE PERSON and

We are getting there. Bitcoin is much easier to spend now. We are starting to see bitcoin debit cards, which is a major step forward.