Bitcoin already IS mainstream

[njcarlos]

You make it sound like everyone has to compile bitcoin-qt and/or use bitcoind from the command line.
My netbanking experiences so far have all been complicated up to a point where I would call them equally difficult to handling bitcoin.

You realize the average user likely can't locate the client after downloading it, right? The average user types a URL into Google instead of a browser's address bar. That's where we're at. You really give the average user too much credit.

[raid_n]

You make it sound like everyone has to compile bitcoin-qt and/or use bitcoind from the command line.
My netbanking experiences so far have all been complicated up to a point where I would call them equally difficult to handling bitcoin.

You realize the average user likely can't locate the client after downloading it, right? The average user types a URL into Google instead of a browser's address bar. That's where we're at. You really give the average user too much credit.

That average user also somehow manages to log in to their netbanking, enter credit card details in various stores, upload crappy pictures to their facebook timeline and install apps on their smartphones. (oh, and possibly even file their taxes!)
I am assuming we speak of persons of reasonable intellect capable of learning and not of the mentally challenged.


A quick glance at the internet and a lot of its content reminds me that while you may claim that the average user can't overcome the technical burden, it would actually be great if they really couldn't (not with bitcoin but with digital technology in general)

[Sevvero]

When price was 1200 everyone knew about it.  Even my 75 year old father heard about it and asked me if its a good investment cause he heard it frim obscure radio show.  I said HELL NO.  Glad I talked him out of that

Trust me everyone knows about it and nobody cares.

I downloaded a wallet  to play around. Such PITA to use and I'm a geek.  Its like expecting normal people make torrenting mainstream when they rather use Netflix

That's an excellent analogy.

No, it is not. It is rather inconvenient to use yet to be mainstream. People hear about it and don't use it not because the idea is flawed, but because most people are lazy/stupid. Once bitcoin is easier to obtain, handle and spend for a common person, the adoption will come - because it is a better form of money.

If you compare bitcoin to the internet, we are in 1994 or so. A solid protocol (tcp/ip) is working for many years already, there are several cumbersome interfaces to it that only geeks use, most people heard about it but less than 1% used it, and alot of startups are developing tools and services for it. Wait for a year 2000, which in bitcoin world would come much faster than in 6 years (since there is direct financial incentive which was very indirect in the tcp/ip case), and see then what mainstream for bitcoin really is.

I also agree to this.

A bit of an off topic question, but what is the plan for handling the blockchain size issue?

This is a legitimate issue. I understand that only a better client could negate this. A company creating a user friendly client.

Lol at these butthurt boatmissers wanting BTC to crash to enjoy other people's suffering.
News just in: It will not crash and you will self hate yourself for not taking advantage of another opportunity to get cheap coins. Enjoy.

Idiot spotted, provided detailed analysis or gtfo. Yes, detailed means with actual numbers and calculations for your prediction.

[Thelastcoin]

To be mainstream it needs a lot more market cap.

[njcarlos]

That average user also somehow manages to log in to their netbanking, enter credit card details in various stores, upload crappy pictures to their facebook timeline and install apps on their smartphones

Entering text into an input box and clicking big buttons on a device that say "Login," "Attach Photo" or "Install" suddenly makes the average user literate enough to understand, appreciate, and actually acquire BTC? We'll have to agree to disagree.

[exocytosis]

Ask a hundred random people if they've ever heard about Bitcoin.

On average, at least 98 of them will say no.

[exocytosis]

There is no Bitcoin downfall, I remember when it was still sub $30, now it's $449.

And it was $1240 nine months ago. There is an obvious downfall.

[falllling]

Lol at these butthurt boatmissers wanting BTC to crash to enjoy other people's suffering.
News just in: It will not crash and you will self hate yourself for not taking advantage of another opportunity to get cheap coins. Enjoy.

Stop telling people to buy into a failing system for your own profit!

We crashed 26% in the past 30 days, sure go on keep on saying it's not crashing, more drop every day, and faster every day!

The system is rigged and falling apart right now, GET OUT.

agreed

[falllling]

There is no Bitcoin downfall, I remember when it was still sub $30, now it's $449.

And it was $1240 nine months ago. There is an obvious downfall.

he is a lying scammer or bag holder

[Sevvero]

There is no Bitcoin downfall, I remember when it was still sub $30, now it's $449.

And it was $1240 nine months ago. There is an obvious downfall.

he is a lying scammer or bag holder

Oh really? Who am I scamming?

I bought Bitcoin well below this price.

u mad, no coiner?

[mp420]

I agree with the OP. Bitcoin is mainstream, and mainstream folks are seeing it as a investment scheme they found out about too late to profit.

The only use cases for Bitcoin where it really thrives are small scale illegal activities. But even bottom feeder drug dealers prefer cash, it's simpler and more universally accepted and more anonymous.

[malexls]

Mainstream? 
I don't know where you live, maybe around the silicon valley...

Facebook is mainstream
Paypal is mainstream

Bitcoin isn't mainstream for the moment

Old money/baby boomers are too senile to understand Bitcoin (hence the comments from Charlie Munger of Bitcoin being rat poison)

Agree there, a lot of these people who don't know PayPal, even facebook to keep the examples

imo bitcoin will grow with the current and nexts generations, give it time

just see how a lot of old peoples are still reluctant to credit cards, my grandfather still uses checks ONLY 

[raid_n]

That average user also somehow manages to log in to their netbanking, enter credit card details in various stores, upload crappy pictures to their facebook timeline and install apps on their smartphones

Entering text into an input box and clicking big buttons on a device that say "Login," "Attach Photo" or "Install" suddenly makes the average user literate enough to understand, appreciate, and actually acquire BTC? We'll have to agree to disagree.

FTFY

I have no idea how you got your BTC but the little bit that I bought literally took me less than 10 minutes to purchase.

You are mixing things up here a bit. Using BTC is easy, buying them maybe a little bit harder.
The fair analogy would be using your credit card vs. actually applying for one at a bank.

In this respect bitcoin is infinitely more easy to get and use because you literally need no credentials whatsoever and the software required is free and open source.
Here, I just generated myself a "credit card" -> 1ErSxw6KardUzKiCoPgAfKRhNejCgvNNBc
That is all I need to receive and spend bitcoin. I could even stick to that single address and reuse it.

This is not about the average user not being able to acquire bitcoins.
It is about the average user not being interested enough to make the trivial effort of looking into it.
But as services evolve and provide benefits such as discounts they will start to notice.

Silk road is actually a great example for this. The reality of drug abuse will not change, you will always have that in societies.
Bitcoin promised more ease of use so average users who happened to be drug abusers found a reason to notice and use bitcoin.
I do not want to argue about the morals and implications of silk road and black/grey markets.

Tipbots are another great example of why users may look into bitcoin and I think ultimately tipping and micro-transactions (looking forward to those inverse bloom filters!)
will be a large factor for widespread bitcoin adoption.

[trader001]

Mainstream is when everyone on the street using it for transaction and know how bitcoin work.

We still have less than 1% worldwide market share on trade and payment.

[suchnoob]

The way I see it, Bitcoin is way too complicated for mass adoption. Most you could hope for is a high percentage of the 1% than can use it. What it needs are offices, like banks have, to teach people about bitcoin, why bitcoin is good, and guide them through the process of opening  a wallet, buying bitcoin and teaching them how they can use those bitcoin. Plus better and more streamlined (noob friendly) way to use it on the internet.

[nextblast]

To all those who are waiting for Bitcoin to "go mainstream" - stop waiting, it already is.

Most educated people by now have heard of Bitcoin.

Bitcoin has been featured on most news sites and most popular TV news casts. It has been featured in CNN, BBC, CNBC, Fox News, Marketwatch, Forbes, Financial Times and many more resources. There have been several viral stories and old people have been spotted buying bitcoins at ATM's.

Bitcoin is mainstream.

Why hasn't it gone to the moon yet then?

Easy answer. Because people CHOSE not to use it.

Most people HAVE HEARD about Bitcoin and consciously decided that they WILL NOT USE IT.

Facts:
- Most people are not tech savvy enough to use Bitcoin
- Bitcoin client is cumbersone to use
- There have been many reports of how hard it is to secure Bitcoin especially for technically challenged people
- Bitcoin is not user friendly
- Bitcoin is unsecure and easy to steal if you aren't careful
- Old money/baby boomers are too senile to understand Bitcoin (hence the comments from Charlie Munger of Bitcoin being rat poison)

Why I am still pro Bitcoin and think it will raise in 5-20 years (after 20-30 years we might be getting AI which will change everything and possibly Bitcoin system will be depreciated):
- The protocol has ONLY ONE fault, the 51% attack, which does not destroy Bitcoin only harms it and has little chance of being used.
- Protocol is solid, has intrinsic value, is unique, is comparable to early e-mail
- Bitcoin has intrinsic value for money laundering, black markets and other mostly grey economy related fields
- There is a high chance of some companies coming up with clients that would be noob/average people friendly.

I think that Bitcoin is a fun little gamble that can pay off massively.

It will never go to literal 0, but it can drop a lot naturally.

By the way, if you have invested more than a little portion of your savings and your life depends on Bitcoin, then you are an idiot of extreme proportions and deserve to lose it all.

Still needs big dumps and bumps. It will be mainstream when Amazon and Google accepts bitcoin.

[Rakitich]

It isn't mainstream at all. Go to the street, ask random people what Bitcoin is, draw results.

[Soccruo]

It isn't mainstream at all. Go to the street, ask random people what Bitcoin is, draw results.

Exactly, I know much more people who doesn't know a thing about bitcoins then those who use btc.

[Sevvero]

It isn't mainstream at all. Go to the street, ask random people what Bitcoin is, draw results.

I did. Most people had heard about it.

[SnakePlisken]

On one hand Bitcoin has definitely gone mainstream, but on the other it still has a ways to go.

A day doesn't go by when there isn't something I want to purchase on the Internet, but sadly they don't accept Bitcoin and I don't use credit cards or Paypal so I have to add them to my list of "I hope these guys take Bitcoin soon".

For example, the sports betting market is absolutely huge, but none of the large bookies take Bitcoin (except for 5 Dimes but that isn't fully operational yet).

In my mind, Bitcoin can be considered truly mainstream when Amazon, Ebay and large, reputable sportsbooks start accepting it. I truly believe they will, it is just a question of how soon.