MintChip challenge - Vote for Bitcoin! UPDATE: THEY LIED! SCANDAL!

[evoorhees]

As part of MintChip's PR campaign, they're asking people what uses they might have for a digital currency like MintChip  (it's actually not a digital currency, just a digital method for transferring state fiat currency).

Right now, "Buying Bitcoins" is the leading suggestion. I encourage everyone to vote! And actually, if MintChip is truly irreversable, then it will be an excellent way to buy Bitcoin (maybe the best?).

http://ideas.mintchipchallenge.com/submissions/6739-a-digital-currency-can-be-used-for-purchasing-bitcoin

UPDATE Sept 24:

Today the winners were announce. The site now shows any suggestions in the "Top 10" with  a little crown, and these are the winners.

However, the Bitcoin option, which BY FAR won the votes, is not included in this Top 10.

In other words, they blatantly lied about the results, and Bitcoin is nowhere to be seen, despite having more than 3x as many votes as the second place option.

Pretty amazed!

UPDATE: We just had to blog about this!!

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[MaxSan]

Voted on 

[Troll Toll]

done

[juggalodarkclow]

voted

[evoorhees]

Hahahah the lead is strongly ours now!!

Keep voting all y'alls

[EuSouBitcoin]

voted

[minimalB]

done : )

[btcinstant]

Voted! (btw: we are in 1st place! yay!)

[Spekulatius]

Bitcoin for first Crypto-President of the USA!

[matthewh3]

Voted

[Phinnaeus Gage]

Voted and Tweeted:

https://twitter.com/DaBitcoinGuy

I support A digital currency can be used for purchasing bitcoin. http://ideas.mintchipchallenge.com/submissions/6739-a-digital-currency-can-be-used-for-purchasing-bitcoin?r=36437 via @ChallengePost

[neuronics]

Done - and counting !

[adamstgBit]

when the open source decentralized Bitcoin / MintChip exchange is submitted for the MintChip challenge. its sure to win at least most popular 

[teflone]

done

[proudhon]

Voted.

[paraipan]

Voted

[cypherdoc]

voted

[barbarousrelic]

How does one acquire MitChip? Can you go to any Canadian bank and exchange loonies for Mintchip?

[Dusty]

Voted, spread the word!!

[marcus_of_augustus]

"exchange Loonies for MintChips ..." ... cartoon currencies, it's funny if it wasn't tragic

[Fefox]

Voted

[LoupGaroux]

Voted, and in good Chicago fashion... voted again, and again...

[Phinnaeus Gage]

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jonmatonis/2012/04/12/mintchip-misses-the-point-of-digital-currency/

Ironically, one of the leading ideas for the use of MintChip in the MintChip Challenge is to purchase bitcoin with it since it’s irreversible.

[waspoza]

Voted.

[minero1]

did submit my vote

[ysoliman]

Voted.. 
Winning - 92 votes so far!

[mc_lovin]

voted!! SPREAD THE WORD!!

[mc_lovin]

upvotes away!

http://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/s5w1v/the_leading_idea_for_the_use_of_the_mintchip_in/

http://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/rttum/lets_get_a_digital_currency_can_be_used_for/

[Phinnaeus Gage]

Voted.. 
Winning - 92 votes so far!

Now at 95 votes. As far as for the also rans, Bitcoin can theoretically or currently do all the below.

A digital currency can be used for Quickly and easily paying for your morning coffee fix. Streamlining your order and getting you on your way faster. (31 votes)

A digital currency can be used for allowing groups to easily split purchases. For example, you could order pizza, then use an app to have everyone pay equally (26 votes)

A digital currency can be used for quick pay transactions like bus fairs, taxis, parking meters, convenience stores and pay@pump gas stations (19 votes)

A digital currency can be used for micro-payments for digital goods. We could easily pay citizen journalists and musicians for the work they post online. (17 votes)

~Bruno~

[Cryptoman]

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jonmatonis/2012/04/12/mintchip-misses-the-point-of-digital-currency/

Ironically, one of the leading ideas for the use of MintChip in the MintChip Challenge is to purchase bitcoin with it since it’s irreversible.

LOL, Jon's always on top of things.

[bitlizard]

Holy crap there was actually what is IMO a very good idea on there that had nothing to do with bitcoin. as follows:

"A digital currency can be used for aggregating loose change. Change counting machines could load up your MintChip rather than print a slip that you need to exchange"

If someone built one that issued btc for loose change (and kept a little spread as profit) that would be an awesome way for people to get into bitcoin with practically zero investment of their money (scrap change) or time (the machine is right in front of them). It could issue a little qr code that they scan with their phone and installs a light weight smart phone wallet that contains their balance.

I would use it.

[bitlizard]

BTW i do not see anything about bitcoin on the first page of this mintchip ideas page http://ideas.mintchipchallenge.com/ so bitcoin either fell dramatically from the top spot, or the mintchip moderators removed it by force(please note: i did zero due diligence on this one (I'm drinking)). also suspect is that the comment count on all ideas now shows as 0 (on google chrome at least) what up wit dat?

[Foxpup]

BTW i do not see anything about bitcoin on the first page of this mintchip ideas page http://ideas.mintchipchallenge.com/ so bitcoin either fell dramatically from the top spot, or the mintchip moderators removed it by force(please note: i did zero due diligence on this one (I'm drinking)). also suspect is that the comment count on all ideas now shows as 0 (on google chrome at least) what up wit dat?

Try sorting by number of votes rather than by date (this is why you shouldn't post when drinking).

[bitlizard]

never mind all i had to do was use the dropdown menu (I'm drinking) and make the appropriate selection. bitcoin is still the most popular idea with 96 votes, with an idea for digital currency being "able to be used to buy coffee" with 31 votes. So bitcoin presently enjoys a significant margin of winningness.

PS: just checked out some of the comments for the brilliant "buy coffee" 31 votes, second place idea. It would seem there is considerable controversy over some alleged internet forum voter fraud (check for yourself http://ideas.mintchipchallenge.com/submissions/6784-a-digital-currency-can-be-used-for-quickly-and-easily-paying-for-your-morning-coffee-fix-streamlining-your-order-and-getting-you-on-your-way-faster? )  I will be following this topic closely and tweeting any updates, as I know this matter is of little importance to anyone.    

[mc_lovin]

never mind all i had to do was use the dropdown menu (I'm drinking) and make the appropriate selection. bitcoin is still the most popular idea with 96 votes, with an idea for digital currency being "able to be used to buy coffee" with 31 votes. So bitcoin presently enjoys a significant margin of winningness.

PS: just checked out some of the comments for the brilliant "buy coffee" 31 votes, second place idea. It would seem there is considerable controversy over some alleged internet forum voter fraud (check for yourself http://ideas.mintchipchallenge.com/submissions/6784-a-digital-currency-can-be-used-for-quickly-and-easily-paying-for-your-morning-coffee-fix-streamlining-your-order-and-getting-you-on-your-way-faster? )  I will be following this topic closely and tweeting any updates, as I know this matter is of little importance to anyone.   

but look at the comments on the coffee one.  those votes came out of NOWHERE and like 100% of the comments are flaming the submitter and basically all those votes don't count. 

"Just because a vote appears on the site does not mean it is an eligible vote. We check votes via a wide variety of criteria at the end of the challenge and fraudulent votes won't be counted."

[Bitcoin Oz]

Holy crap there was actually what is IMO a very good idea on there that had nothing to do with bitcoin. as follows:

"A digital currency can be used for aggregating loose change. Change counting machines could load up your MintChip rather than print a slip that you need to exchange"

If someone built one that issued btc for loose change (and kept a little spread as profit) that would be an awesome way for people to get into bitcoin with practically zero investment of their money (scrap change) or time (the machine is right in front of them). It could issue a little qr code that they scan with their phone and installs a light weight smart phone wallet that contains their balance.

I would use it.

I wish the recycling centre paid out bitcoins for aluminium cans and scrap metal in the same fashion

[jorgen]

voted, 101st

[Bitcoin Oz]

Canadian tyre money for mintchips lol

[Phinnaeus Gage]

For sake of argument, let's say that the Bitcoin suggestion is on of the top 25 submissions. What are the chances that the judges won't include it in the top 10?

http://ideas.mintchipchallenge.com/rules

4. Winner Selection: The twenty-five (25) Submissions that receive the most verified and confirmed votes will be declared finalists (the “Finalists”). The Finalists will then have their Submissions judged on the following three criteria:

a. Quality of the idea;
b. Feasibility of implementation; and
c. Potential impact on MintChip offerings and electronic payment technology.

5. The ten (10) Finalists whose Submissions score the highest by the judging panel will become potential winner of a Top 10 Prize (as defined in greater details hereinafter).

~Bruno~

[Foxpup]

4. Winner Selection: The twenty-five (25) Submissions that receive the most verified and confirmed votes will be declared finalists (the “Finalists”). The Finalists will then have their Submissions judged on the following three criteria:

a. Quality of the idea;
b. Feasibility of implementation; and
c. Potential impact on MintChip offerings and electronic payment technology.

5. The ten (10) Finalists whose Submissions score the highest by the judging panel will become potential winner of a Top 10 Prize (as defined in greater details hereinafter).

a. It's clearly a brilliant idea.
b. Bitcoin/MintChip exchanges will likely spring up within a day of MintChip being released.
c. Ah, well, 2 out of 3 ain't bad!

[mc_lovin]

We're at 111 votes now!

[01BTC10]

Voted 

[FredericBastiat]

Voted.

[kjlimo]

Vote # 117.

Go bitcoin!

[mc_lovin]

127 votes, c'mon people vote!  2nd place is only 95 votes away!

[enmaku]

Vote #128

We should start a "Bitcoin already did it" meme a la "Simpsons already did it" - I personally would have phrased the idea "You can use MintChip to buy the other digital currency you're ripping off" but then perhaps I'm a bit militant when it comes to pseudo-plagiarism 

[Hexadecibel]

I voted

[edd]

Voted.

In addition, if Canadians really want to buy their morning cup of coffee with digital currency, I may just have to open up my first physical BitBrew Cafe in Toronto. 

[paraipan]

Sorry for the bump but I just received the following e-mail from challengepost.com that reminds us that we still have a few months to go untill they chose a winner. Hope bitcoin wins  

2 months to go!

Thanks for supporting the MintChip Ideas Challenge! Enter an idea for how you would use a digital currency, and you'll be in the running for great recognition and $2,550 in prizes.

What to do between now and the August 1 deadline:

Enter more ideas

Did you know that participants can contribute more than one submission? Keep the ideas coming!

Vote for your favorites daily

Browse 285+ submitted ideas so far, and vote daily until August 1. You can vote once per day per submission, and for as many submissions as you'd like. Your vote will help determine the 25 finalists, from which a panel of Royal Canadian Mint judges will select 10 winners.*

Spread the word about MintChip

Know someone who might have a great idea for the future of currency? Send a personal email, add a link in your email signature/chat status, and spread the word via your social networks. 

We look forward to seeing your innovative ideas!

- - -

*Note: We will be fully investigating all votes before determining the finalists. Just because a vote appears on the site does not mean it is an eligible vote. We check votes via a wide variety of criteria and are confident that any bad votes won't be counted. If you want to make sure we notice fraudulent votes, email us at support@challengepost.com with the subject "Bad MintChip Ideas Votes" and include a link to the submission in question.

You're receiving this update because you're following The MintChip Challenge - Ideas.

If you don't want to receive updates like this one, unfollow this challenge. You can also change your default setting for updates.

[Portnoy]

Sorry for the bump but I just received the following e-mail from challengepost.com that reminds us that are still a few months to go untill they chose a winner. Hope that bitcoin wins 

2 months to go!

Thanks for supporting the MintChip Ideas Challenge! Enter an idea for how you would use a digital currency, and you'll be in the running for great recognition and $2,550 in prizes.

What to do between now and the August 1 deadline:

Enter more ideas

Did you know that participants can contribute more than one submission? Keep the ideas coming!

Vote for your favorites daily

Browse 285+ submitted ideas so far, and vote daily until August 1. You can vote once per day per submission, and for as many submissions as you'd like. Your vote will help determine the 25 finalists, from which a panel of Royal Canadian Mint judges will select 10 winners.*

Spread the word about MintChip

Know someone who might have a great idea for the future of currency? Send a personal email, add a link in your email signature/chat status, and spread the word via your social networks. 

We look forward to seeing your innovative ideas!

- - -

*Note: We will be fully investigating all votes before determining the finalists. Just because a vote appears on the site does not mean it is an eligible vote. We check votes via a wide variety of criteria and are confident that any bad votes won't be counted. If you want to make sure we notice fraudulent votes, email us at support@challengepost.com with the subject "Bad MintChip Ideas Votes" and include a link to the submission in question.

You're receiving this update because you're following The MintChip Challenge - Ideas.

If you don't want to receive updates like this one, unfollow this challenge. You can also change your default setting for updates.

Just finished going to vote for the "buy bitcoins" idea again before coming to this forum...

[REF]

voted 137. buying bitcoins has a strong lead.

[Portnoy]

voted 137. buying bitcoins has a strong lead.

It was that when I voted.  Maybe you can vote all you want... they just don't record more than one vote per person.   

[mc_lovin]

voted 137. buying bitcoins has a strong lead.

It was that when I voted.  Maybe you can vote all you want... they just don't record more than one vote per person.   

lol i'm pretty sure that is the case.

[minimalB]

One week to go! We are still 100 votes ahead : )

[dree12]

Voted.

If the entire Bitcoin community votes, this would be amazing!

[paraipan]

Voted.

If the entire Bitcoin community votes, this would be amazing!

That would be awesome yeah, someone just asked about this on Rugatu look

http://www.rugatu.com/questions/2263/vote-for-bitcoin-in-the-mintchip-chalenge

[unclemantis]

done

[niko]

I haven't cast the vote yet. It's sure tempting to promote Bitcoin through this challenge, but then again Bitcoin already does everything MintChip might be doing, and much more. Oh, whatever. Let them be. I decided. Going to vote.

[unclemantis]

They had a limited amount of developer kits available and they all got taken within a matter of hours.

I emailed them stating who I was, my experience and if they could consider sending me one.

Their reply was that they could not let me in since all the devices where given out.

BULLSHIT. You telling me they don't have spares?

Well anyways it kills me to think what percentage of those kits are NOT BEING USED FOR DEVELOPMENT and are just sitting around as a collector's item to be sold on ebay one day.

PISSES ME OFF.

They want developers but they are pushing me way.

I don't see Bitcoin pushing me away!

PS. If anyone here has a developers kit for MintChip and they are not using it or have given up on the challenge I will gladly take it off your hands. I will pay for shipping but nothing else.

PM me if you are interested. Thank you!

[knight22]

Voted!!

[dree12]

I haven't cast the vote yet. It's sure tempting to promote Bitcoin through this challenge, but then again Bitcoin already does everything MintChip might be doing, and much more. Oh, whatever. Let them be. I decided. Going to vote.

Bitcoin is not a good digital currency for buying Bitcoin, for obvious reasons.

[mc_lovin]

6 days left!  Still 100 votes in the lead but #2 has 100 votes.. if she can get less than 17 votes per day then we win!

[Dusty]

bump

Please tell all your friends to vote!

[knight22]

Bitcoin is not a good digital currency for buying Bitcoin, for obvious reasons.

Maybe. Can you explain your point?

[dree12]

Bitcoin is not a good digital currency for buying Bitcoin, for obvious reasons.

Maybe. Can you explain your point?

I hope you're not serious.

If you are, please explain to me how you can purchase BTC for BTC, and who will sell you the BTC. Also make sure to include the current price of BTC, in BTC of course.

[paraipan]

Bitcoin is not a good digital currency for buying Bitcoin, for obvious reasons.

Maybe. Can you explain your point?

I hope you're not serious.

If you are, please explain to me how you can purchase BTC for BTC, and who will sell you the BTC. Also make sure to include the current price of BTC, in BTC of course.

Don't be so sure, there could be cases where you buy BTC with BTC

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=94712.0

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=94712.msg1047556#msg1047556

https://www.casascius.com/

[unclemantis]

Does anyone reading this even have a MintChip developers kit?

[BCB]

Yes

[BkkCoins]

Bitcoin is not a good digital currency for buying Bitcoin, for obvious reasons.

Maybe. Can you explain your point?

I hope you're not serious.

If you are, please explain to me how you can purchase BTC for BTC, and who will sell you the BTC. Also make sure to include the current price of BTC, in BTC of course.

Don't be so sure, there could be cases where you buy BTC with BTC

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=94712.0

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=94712.msg1047556#msg1047556

https://www.casascius.com/

Mixing, Laundry. That's exactly what buying BTC with BTC is. And people do that already.

[unclemantis]

Yes

Are you seriously developing or did you just get it for collect-ability?

[dree12]

Bitcoin is not a good digital currency for buying Bitcoin, for obvious reasons.

Maybe. Can you explain your point?

I hope you're not serious.

If you are, please explain to me how you can purchase BTC for BTC, and who will sell you the BTC. Also make sure to include the current price of BTC, in BTC of course.

Don't be so sure, there could be cases where you buy BTC with BTC

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=94712.0

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=94712.msg1047556#msg1047556

https://www.casascius.com/

Mixing, Laundry. That's exactly what buying BTC with BTC is. And people do that already.

No, it isn't. Neither is collecting coins, expect in rare situations.

If I need 100 BTC, laundering is not going to help me. Unless I happen to have a block in high demand, neither is selling my block. What will help me is some CAD.

BTC is a useless commodity for buying BTC.

[paraipan]

@dree12  we're getting waaay off topic

[BCB]

Yes

Are you seriously developing or did you just get it for collect-ability?

I developed a working web based payment app but I'm not sure I'll be submitting.  While I'm using their interesting technology, I'm using some by own design and logic and by submitting you agree to license all your work to them for free in perpetuity.   Not sure I'm interested in that.  However some of their authentication and security methods were interesting and I'd like to port some of it to a Bitcoin payment device

[unclemantis]

Yes

Are you seriously developing or did you just get it for collect-ability?

I developed a working web based payment app but I'm not sure I'll be submitting.  While I'm using their interesting technology, I'm using some by own design and logic and by submitting you agree to license all your work to them for free in perpetuity.   Not sure I'm interested in that.  However some of their authentication and security methods were interesting and I'd like to port some of it to a Bitcoin payment device

You AGREED to the terms and they sent you a kit. I am a professional programmer and I very interested in SUBMITTING something but I can't because all the kits where snatched up within a couple of days of announcement.

If you are not going to submit anything I will gladly take it off your hands for you so that I can contribute while you just sit on your hands.

[BkkCoins]

No, it isn't. Neither is collecting coins, expect in rare situations.

If I need 100 BTC, laundering is not going to help me. Unless I happen to have a block in high demand, neither is selling my block. What will help me is some CAD.

BTC is a useless commodity for buying BTC.

How can you say mixing isn't buying BTC with BTC? It quite obviously is since you give someone your BTC and they give you back some BTC. No one ever said that buying BTC with BTC had to be solely because you didn't already have BTC. That you need BTC. Perhaps you need different BTC than the ones you have. And mixing is certainly going to help.

And the price of BTC in BTC? Well, that would be the mixing fee. If you don't get all the BTC back during mixing then obviously the price of BTC in BTC includes a commission. ie. the price is less than 1.00. None of this seems particularly elusive or complicted.

I just wrote this as an exercise in pasting the BTC symbol, which was a new thing to me.

And I'm not sure what you mean by "selling your block"? Where can you sell your block, what is your block and who would want it?

[BCB]

Yes

Are you seriously developing or did you just get it for collect-ability?

I developed a working web based payment app but I'm not sure I'll be submitting.  While I'm using their interesting technology, I'm using some by own design and logic and by submitting you agree to license all your work to them for free in perpetuity.   Not sure I'm interested in that.  However some of their authentication and security methods were interesting and I'd like to port some of it to a Bitcoin payment device

You AGREED to the terms and they sent you a kit. I am a professional programmer and I very interested in SUBMITTING something but I can't because all the kits where snatched up within a couple of days of announcement.

If you are not going to submit anything I will gladly take it off your hands for you so that I can contribute while you just sit on your hands.

1. I didn't say I wasn't going to submit.  I'm putting the final touches on it this week and I'll be giving the terms another read.  Winning some gold might be nice but relinquishing ip may not be worth it.
2.  It a REALLY buggy api.  I'm have no ideas of your skills but even Zhou probably couldn't bank out an app in 4 days.

MagicalTux was writing a wrapper but I'm not sure he ever got it working.  I stopped following it.
https://github.com/MagicalTux/mintchip/blob/master/php/MintChipMessage.class.php

What languages do you develop in?

[unclemantis]

Yes

Are you seriously developing or did you just get it for collect-ability?

I developed a working web based payment app but I'm not sure I'll be submitting.  While I'm using their interesting technology, I'm using some by own design and logic and by submitting you agree to license all your work to them for free in perpetuity.   Not sure I'm interested in that.  However some of their authentication and security methods were interesting and I'd like to port some of it to a Bitcoin payment device

You AGREED to the terms and they sent you a kit. I am a professional programmer and I very interested in SUBMITTING something but I can't because all the kits where snatched up within a couple of days of announcement.

If you are not going to submit anything I will gladly take it off your hands for you so that I can contribute while you just sit on your hands.

1. I didn't say I wasn't going to submit.  I'm putting the final touches on it this week and I'll be giving the terms another read.  Winning some gold might be nice but relinquishing ip may not be worth it.
2.  It a REALLY buggy api.  I'm have no ideas of your skills but even Zhou probably couldn't bank out an app in 4 days.

MagicalTux was writing a wrapper but I'm not sure he ever got it working.  I stopped following it.
https://github.com/MagicalTux/mintchip/blob/master/php/MintChipMessage.class.php

What languages do you develop in?

PHP, JavaScript, ASP, C#, Ruby, Ruby on Rails

[unclemantis]

Yes

Are you seriously developing or did you just get it for collect-ability?

I developed a working web based payment app but I'm not sure I'll be submitting.  While I'm using their interesting technology, I'm using some by own design and logic and by submitting you agree to license all your work to them for free in perpetuity.   Not sure I'm interested in that.  However some of their authentication and security methods were interesting and I'd like to port some of it to a Bitcoin payment device

You AGREED to the terms and they sent you a kit. I am a professional programmer and I very interested in SUBMITTING something but I can't because all the kits where snatched up within a couple of days of announcement.

If you are not going to submit anything I will gladly take it off your hands for you so that I can contribute while you just sit on your hands.

1. I didn't say I wasn't going to submit.  I'm putting the final touches on it this week and I'll be giving the terms another read.  Winning some gold might be nice but relinquishing ip may not be worth it.
2.  It a REALLY buggy api.  I'm have no ideas of your skills but even Zhou probably couldn't bank out an app in 4 days.

MagicalTux was writing a wrapper but I'm not sure he ever got it working.  I stopped following it.
https://github.com/MagicalTux/mintchip/blob/master/php/MintChipMessage.class.php

What languages do you develop in?

PHP, JavaScript, ASP, C#, Ruby, Ruby on Rails

Don't mind me please. I am just in a pissy mood I guess.

[BCB]

Yes

Are you seriously developing or did you just get it for collect-ability?

I developed a working web based payment app but I'm not sure I'll be submitting.  While I'm using their interesting technology, I'm using some by own design and logic and by submitting you agree to license all your work to them for free in perpetuity.   Not sure I'm interested in that.  However some of their authentication and security methods were interesting and I'd like to port some of it to a Bitcoin payment device

You AGREED to the terms and they sent you a kit. I am a professional programmer and I very interested in SUBMITTING something but I can't because all the kits where snatched up within a couple of days of announcement.

If you are not going to submit anything I will gladly take it off your hands for you so that I can contribute while you just sit on your hands.

1. I didn't say I wasn't going to submit.  I'm putting the final touches on it this week and I'll be giving the terms another read.  Winning some gold might be nice but relinquishing ip may not be worth it.
2.  It a REALLY buggy api.  I'm have no ideas of your skills but even Zhou probably couldn't bank out an app in 4 days.

MagicalTux was writing a wrapper but I'm not sure he ever got it working.  I stopped following it.
https://github.com/MagicalTux/mintchip/blob/master/php/MintChipMessage.class.php

What languages do you develop in?

PHP, JavaScript, ASP, C#, Ruby, Ruby on Rails

Don't mind me please. I am just in a pissy mood I guess.

No problem.  Yes, the whole mint chip challenge was kind of strange.  I saw it on twitter so I signed up the day is was announced.  When I got the package in the mail I had no idea what is was becuase I wasn't notified.  There were were a bunch of pissed off guys bitching on the VERY S P A R S E mint chips challenge community board about not getting a slot.  
http://mintchipchallenge.com/forum_topics

There were even a bunch of pissed off Canadians where were not happy that the Canadian mint was sponsoring the challange and there were no spots for them.  

Did you check out the boards?  I know there were other developers looking to join teams and other contestants who were looking for partners.  

Problem was that shortly after the api was released some security guys identified some serious flaws and it also became evident how raw the api was, so I think a lot of people lost interest.  

They basically had this idea, wrote some methods and wrappers and threw it in the wild.  I'm really curious to see what some of the others come up with.  I say the mintchip will not be ready for prime time for another three years if they even continue to develop it.  

Who knows there may even be a round two of the contest.  Sign up for their twitter feed.

[BCB]

Yes

Are you seriously developing or did you just get it for collect-ability?

I developed a working web based payment app but I'm not sure I'll be submitting.  While I'm using their interesting technology, I'm using some by own design and logic and by submitting you agree to license all your work to them for free in perpetuity.   Not sure I'm interested in that.  However some of their authentication and security methods were interesting and I'd like to port some of it to a Bitcoin payment device

You AGREED to the terms and they sent you a kit. I am a professional programmer and I very interested in SUBMITTING something but I can't because all the kits where snatched up within a couple of days of announcement.

If you are not going to submit anything I will gladly take it off your hands for you so that I can contribute while you just sit on your hands.

1. I didn't say I wasn't going to submit.  I'm putting the final touches on it this week and I'll be giving the terms another read.  Winning some gold might be nice but relinquishing ip may not be worth it.
2.  It a REALLY buggy api.  I'm have no ideas of your skills but even Zhou probably couldn't bank out an app in 4 days.

MagicalTux was writing a wrapper but I'm not sure he ever got it working.  I stopped following it.
https://github.com/MagicalTux/mintchip/blob/master/php/MintChipMessage.class.php

What languages do you develop in?

PHP, JavaScript, ASP, C#, Ruby, Ruby on Rails

Don't mind me please. I am just in a pissy mood I guess.

No problem.  Yes, the whole mint chip challenge was kind of strange.  I saw it on twitter so I signed up the day is was announced.  When I got the package in the mail I had no idea what is was becuase I wasn't notified.  There were were a bunch of pissed off guys bitching on the VERY S P A R S E mint chips challenge community board about not getting a slot.  
http://mintchipchallenge.com/forum_topics

There were even a bunch of pissed off Canadians where were not happy that the Canadian mint was sponsoring the challange and there were no spots for them.  

Did you check out the boards?  I know there were other developers looking to join teams and other contestants who were looking for partners.  

Problem was that shortly after the api was released some security guys identified some serious flaws and it also became evident how raw the api was, so I think a lot of people lost interest.  The was also a lot of mistrust from the decentralized currency community because the whole schema was controlled by the mint.  The Mint Chip is no bitcoin.

They basically had this idea, wrote some methods and wrappers and threw it in the wild.  I'm really curious to see what some of the others come up with.  I say the mintchip will not be ready for prime time for another three years if they even continue to develop it.  

Who knows there may even be a round two of the contest.  Sign up for their twitter feed.

[goodlord666]

voted.

[mc_lovin]

wow, #2 has 110 votes now.. the last few days seems to be a dash towards the finish line.

[dree12]

wow, #2 has 110 votes now.. the last few days seems to be a dash towards the finish line.

Eh? #1 is almost double #2...

[unclemantis]

That will show those people what we think about their funny money!







                                                                              KAKA!

[dree12]

Done. 54 days until we hear the results...

[cbeast]

Meanwhile Canada is secretly building ASIC mining systems to install instead of MintChip. 

[knight22]

2 days until mintchip will reveal the winner of the challenge. I wonder if it will be used to buy bitcoin as per voters asked for 

[Phinnaeus Gage]

2 days until mintchip will reveal the winner of the challenge. I wonder if it will be used to buy bitcoin as per voters asked for 

Mintchip Labs is currently printing the cards as we speak, as well as accepting pre-orders. The $50 card is $45, the $1,000 is $950, and the $29,000 card is only $25,000. Sales are brisk, and currently only selling to selected buyers, but feel free to get on the list.

Best Regards,

Dr. Sonny James Bitch PH.D./DDS
MC Labs, Inc., LLC, & ATJ (all that jazz)

[dunand]

Is it just me or they updated the website to hide the number of votes for each ideas?
http://ideas.mintchipchallenge.com

Can they be embarrassed that the most popular idea was "A digital currency can be used for purchasing bitcoin".

[paraipan]

Is it just me or they updated the website to hide the number of votes for each ideas?
http://ideas.mintchipchallenge.com

Can they be embarrassed that the most popular idea was "A digital currency can be used for purchasing bitcoin".

YES, they did  

How the f... are people supposed to know how much votes got every idea if they removed them? Tomorrow the winner is announced

[pof]

There are 10 winners and non of them is related with Bitcoin.... Why i'm not surprised? 

http://ideas.mintchipchallenge.com/

[evoorhees]

There are 10 winners and non of them is related with Bitcoin.... Why i'm not surprised? 

http://ideas.mintchipchallenge.com/

THEY LIED ABOUT THE RESULTS!!!!!

They show the top ten winners, but didn't include the Bitcoin suggestion, even though the Bitcoin suggestion was BY FAR the number 1 voted option.

WTF!!!!! Can anyone get a WaybackMachine photo or other proof of this scandal? I might be able to spin it into a news story...

[teflone]

BULLSHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dunand]

WTF!!!!! Can anyone get a WaybackMachine photo or other proof of this scandal? I might be able to spin it into a news story...

I made a screenshot some times ago because I knew this was about to happen.



I'm reading the rules and there is a "Popular Choice Award". The bitcoin idea deserve this prize.

8. Display of Submissions and Public Voting

1. Eligible Submissions will be posted on MintChipChallenge.com on a rolling basis after being screened by the Administrator for basic functionality, accuracy of messaging, and integrity (i.e., security), and appropriateness of content. The Administrator has the right to request additional information and be provided access to the Application in person or via any reasonable manner to verify the Application functions and operates as stated in the Submission. Failure by a Solver to respond or honor such a request may result in immediate disqualification of the Submission. The members of the general public, including all Solvers, will have equal access to Submissions posted on the website.

2. Non-Solvers interested in the Competition may obtain updates on the competition and vote for their favorite Submissions as part of the Popular Choice Award, by creating an account on MintChipChallenge.com or by logging in using an existing ChallengePost account. Such registered visitors will be able to cast one vote per calendar day, following the ET, for each of their favorite Submissions.

3. The public voting is scheduled to take place between August 15, 2012 at 10:00.01 AM ET and September 12, 2012 at 4:59.59 PM ET (the “Voting Period”). Public voting will determine the potential winner of the Popular Choice Award. Use of an automated process or similar device to submit an electronic vote is strictly prohibited. Any attempt to circumvent the one-vote limit per Submission per day, including the use of multiple email addresses or any form of automated vote processes will subject all votes from the person or entity to disqualification. The Sponsor and/or the Administrator reserves the right to disqualify any Solver at their sole discretion, if a Solver receives multiple and/or irregular votes from the same user or users, or receives votes in a manner that otherwise may indicate automated or non-automated vote manipulation. If the voting process for the Popular Choice Award fails to operate properly or appears to be tampered with or tainted with errors, fraud or unfair practices, the Sponsor and/or the Administrator at their sole discretion reserves the right to use another means to determine the potential winner of the Popular Choice Award. Solvers may not pay or otherwise compensate anyone or provide any other type of consideration in exchange for votes.

4. Public votes may be displayed on the Competition website, on a real-time basis, before being verified for integrity. These unverified votes will not necessarily reflect accurately the voting for the Popular Choice Award.

5. The potential winner of the Popular Choice Award will be determined on the basis of the verified vote counts, as determined by the Sponsor or the Administrator. Subject in the Province of Québec (Canada) to the approval of the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux, the Sponsor and the Administrator reserve the right to extend the Voting Period at any time for any reason, and posted/confirmed on MintChipChallenge.com.

6. Submissions for the Large Organization Recognition Award are not eligible for the Popular Choice Award.

[herzmeister]

was well expected  

Probably they're gonna make an excuse that they "merged" some proposals? The winning entry "A digital currency can be used for purchasing virtual items in video games, removing the middle man such as paypal and credit card companies." sounds like Bitcoin may be included in this.  

Ladies and gentlemen, we can say it's official now, Bitcoin is not a welcome guest in their club.

[mc_lovin]

WTF!!

go here:

http://ideas.mintchipchallenge.com/submissions/6739-a-digital-currency-can-be-used-for-purchasing-bitcoin

place comments of fury

[kwukduck]

Did anyone contact them for an explanation and get something back already?

[casascius]

I bet Visa would reject as a winning suggestion that their card is a great way to build credit so you could apply for an American Express, if they ran a similar poll.

I don't think it's evidence of "fiat currency conspiracy" - excluding Bitcoin from their contest is a legitimate business decision they have the freedom to make as a private company.  MintChip has done plenty to give credibility to Bitcoin on its coattails (including proposing a crappy product that will never work securely in the real world, only serving to help Bitcoin shine) and I wouldn't take it for granted or be unduly ungrateful.

[minimalB]

WTF?

Bitcoin had most votes and most comments BY FAR!!!

This is ridiculous...

[herzmeister]

I don't think it's evidence of "fiat currency conspiracy" - excluding Bitcoin from their contest is a legitimate business decision they have the freedom to make as a private company.

ahem, isn't that MintChip thing semi-public, i.e. the Canadian government is behind it?

[elux]

So... MintChip pulled a Barbra Streisand on us?  

Get every decent tech journalist on this. It's a good story. Ready your keyboards, gentlemen!

[eldentyrell]

I don't think it's evidence of "fiat currency conspiracy" - excluding Bitcoin from their contest is a legitimate business decision they have the freedom to make as a private company.

Except that the Canadian Mint is not a private company.  Its capital base is 100% taxpayer funded.  The government owns it.

[RodeoX]

MintChip sucks! Not only did they lie about who won, but the winning entry is a lie also. MintChip can not be used to make anonymous donations. What a crock of $h!t  

[goodlord666]

I bet Visa would reject as a winning suggestion that their card is a great way to build credit so you could apply for an American Express, if they ran a similar poll.

I was gonna say this but Casascius beat me to it.

Mintchips ARE the digital currency they were trying to promote. And the winning votes basically said "Mintchips are a great way to buy something even better, which is not Mintchip". Or they were thinking of adopting Bitcoins in the first place and set the site up to do a mystery poll on the public to get clues on how to market it right.

And I bet you a thousand non-existing BTC that's exactly what they were doing as I'm sure all those big players in the business have been brooding about this as early as everybody else on here.

Btw, this thread always makes me lust for mint chocolate chips...

[Come-from-Beyond]

<sarcasm>

Maybe the idea to buy bitcoins breaks some rules (http://ideas.mintchipchallenge.com/rules)...

Like

7. The Sponsor and/or the Administrator may, at their sole discretion, at any time, remove the Submissions or any part thereof that: ... f. are in bad taste;

Or

8. Additionally, Submissions will not be accepted if, at the sole discretion of the Sponsor and/or the Administrator, they: ... h. disparage the Sponsor.

</sarcasm>

[niko]

I seriously think it was a misunderstanding. To them, it seemed like an obscure group conspired to vote "use mintchip to buy zangalabapops online"...

[phatsphere]

anyone already contacted them? (in a polite manner, please, i.e. not the usual way)

[Transisto]

...Selected by a panel of Royal Canadian Mint judges from 25 finalists determined by public voting.

[knight22]

...Selected by a panel of Royal Canadian Mint judges from 25 finalists determined by public voting.

Just a bunch of assholes!

[Topazan]

...Selected by a panel of Royal Canadian Mint judges from 25 finalists determined by public voting.

Dang, maybe we should've put 25 bitcoin related suggestions up.

An online currency could be used to buy bitcoin ASICs.

An online currency could be used to invest in bitcoin hedge funds.

An online currency could be used to pay for bitcoin laundering services.

Etc, etc.

[Fizzgig]

If you think this is just some misunderstanding, or if you are surprised by this development, you are completely naive.

[knight22]

If you think this is just some misunderstanding, or if you are surprised by this development, you are completely naive.

They still are a bunch of assholes! that's all you need to know

[marcus_of_augustus]

Crap sandwich from State-backed mint ... did you really expect anything different?

The utter ruination of their false world-view is the only thing that will change some people's perspective.

[c0ffer]

Except that the Canadian Mint is not a private company.  Its capital base is 100% taxpayer funded.  The government owns it.

"The Mint is a for-profit Crown Corporation with a mandate to produce circulation and non-circulation coins (for Canada and other countries), manage the domestic coinage system, and provide advice to the Minister of Finance on all matters related to coinage. It also extends to the production and marketing of bullion and related refinery products and services for profit. Legislation which establishes the Mint is clear that the corporation is to conduct its businesses "in anticipation of profit". That fundamental object has shaped the history of the Mint."

Source: http://www.mint.ca/store/mint/about-the-mint/corporate-information-1300004

[dree12]

I am very disappointed in the mint, private company as it may be. While it may not be in their best interest to award the prize to a competitor, it is a public relations disaster and counterintuitive to democracy.

[niko]

Folks, come on... What was the idea anyway - use government-backed digital currency to buy a decentralized digital currency? No offense, but there is nothing innovative about this. Actually, there is, but it was not explained at all. Try to see it from their perspective.

I am happy that this brought some attention to bitcoin - including members of the panel. I am sure some of them will be smart and curious enough to read and think more about Bitcoin. Good enough for me.

[Daily Anarchist]

This is like the Ron Paul blackout all over again! 

We're not just the internet!

We're not just the internet!

[evoorhees]

MintChip's Barbara Streisand Moment

We just had to blog about this!!

[eldentyrell]

Except that the Canadian Mint is not a private company.  Its capital base is 100% taxpayer funded.  The government owns it.

"The Mint is a for-profit Crown Corporation

That's Canadian for "government owned":

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_corporations_of_Canada

[Gabi]

They are ridicolous, they didn't even release their product sofar and they already lie

[niko]

MintChip's Barbara Streisand Moment

We just had to blog about this!!

It's Barbra, not Barbara.

[paraipan]

MintChip's Barbara Streisand Moment

We just had to blog about this!!

Way to go guys, this was really needed, thanks

[ShadowOfHarbringer]

Mintchip is a piece of crap.
They haven't even started yet, and they lie already. What a pity.

[Bitcoin Oz]

Dont worry the bitcoincard will blow away the mintchip 

[Transisto]

You can upvote a reddit link here, : http://www.reddit.com/r/TechNewsToday/comments/10fp1v/mintchip_canadas_new_digital_currency_manipulate/

[paraipan]

Dont worry the bitcoincard will blow away the mintchip 

+1 waiting forward for that

[ShadowOfHarbringer]

Dont worry the bitcoincard will blow away the mintchip  

+1 waiting forward for that

Wow.... their video is simply... mind blowing.

However, as much as i want them to succeed, i don't really believe they can. They aim extremely high with all that advanced technology that is supposed to fit into such small card...
And I am not even saying anything about the problem of electromagnetic interference...

[Come-from-Beyond]

And I am not even saying anything about the problem of electromagnetic interference...

Aye. That's a problem, coz it influences on sexual potency... 

[knight22]

Wow.... their video is simply... mind blowing.

However, as much as i want them to succeed, i don't really believe they can. They aim extremely high with all that advanced technology that is supposed to fit into such small card...
And I am not even saying anything about the problem of electromagnetic interference...

Who's behind that card??
Simply awesome!

[Come-from-Beyond]

Wow.... their video is simply... mind blowing.

However, as much as i want them to succeed, i don't really believe they can. They aim extremely high with all that advanced technology that is supposed to fit into such small card...
And I am not even saying anything about the problem of electromagnetic interference...

Who's behind that card??
Simply awesome!

Matthew was involved into something similar. Maybe it's a fork?

[evoorhees]

Dont worry the bitcoincard will blow away the mintchip  

+1 waiting forward for that

Wow.... their video is simply... mind blowing.

However, as much as i want them to succeed, i don't really believe they can. They aim extremely high with all that advanced technology that is supposed to fit into such small card...
And I am not even saying anything about the problem of electromagnetic interference...

A number of us have seen the card prototypes. The claims they make from a technological standpoint are legitimate. We describe the adventure here (also in another BitInstant blog post, ironically

[allthingsluxury]

Wow crazy.

[ShadowOfHarbringer]

Dont worry the bitcoincard will blow away the mintchip  

+1 waiting forward for that

Wow.... their video is simply... mind blowing.

However, as much as i want them to succeed, i don't really believe they can. They aim extremely high with all that advanced technology that is supposed to fit into such small card...
And I am not even saying anything about the problem of electromagnetic interference...

A number of us have seen the card prototypes. The claims they make from a technological standpoint are legitimate. We describe the adventure here (also in another BitInstant blog post, ironically

Well, the prototypes work as predicted - that is something.

However in real world situations, when there are hundereds or thousands of cards in close vicinity with electromagnetic intereference from all sorts of weird devices, things may get more difficult.

We already know how it "works" with WiFi - when there are more than 10-15 devices per router, nobody can go online (i don't know about mesh wifi though).

[01BTC10]

Unfortunately not surprised by my government.