Real life use case of BTC working where VISA doesn't

[Shiver]

Got a call from a friend who has another friend from USA who is currently in Myanmar for a few weeks.

Issue is, USA apparently has just blocked VISA use there, so he can't get cash out of the ATM, and his bank claims they didn't know.

My friend this side of the border calls me and asks if BTC can help (the guy has BTC with him over in Myanmar).  Quick search on localbitcoins.com, found someone prepared to do the deal (via Western Union unfortunately), and problem solved.

Not the most efficient way of digging yourself out of a short term hole, but without the BTC he would be in a tight spot.

[Jamie_Boulder]

Why didn't you guys just send him the BTC yourselves and cut out the localbitcoins merchant (and WU....)?

Sounds like he got a pretty bad deal IMO.

[SOAD]

Does your friend not have any bitcoins himself? Hopefully in the near future there will be a bitcoin version of western union but without the rapey fees so people can send money and exchange it to cash straight away.

[pawel7777]

Why didn't you guys just send him the BTC yourselves and cut out the localbitcoins merchant (and WU....)?

Sounds like he got a pretty bad deal IMO.

+1

The story doesn't quite add up.

@OP, was the goal to send bitcoins to your friend, or to send him some cash using bitcoin for transfer?

[Shiver]

He has his own bitcoin, didn't need mine, and I'm not looking to increase or decrease my stash at the moment.  Just found him someone to do a deal with so I'm not in the picture (I don't know either party personally), plus I'm in Thailand, so don't want to get wrapped up in potential issues of being a money exchanger being a foreigner without a work permit.

Given a day or so, he can set up mobile internet there and be self sufficient, but he was looking for a result today.  He wasn't anticipating any ATM problems so didn't have much of anything tradable in his pocket wallet.

[pawel7777]

He has his own bitcoin, didn't need mine, and I'm not looking to increase or decrease my stash at the moment.  Just found him someone to do a deal with so I'm not in the picture (I don't know either party personally), plus I'm in Thailand, so don't want to get wrapped up in potential issues of being a money exchanger being a foreigner without a work permit.

Given a day or so, he can set up mobile internet there and be self sufficient, but he was looking for a result today.  He wasn't anticipating any ATM problems so didn't have much of anything tradable in his pocket wallet.

OK, thanks for clarifying. So long story short - he solved his Visa problem by selling his bitcoins for cash.

[Shiver]

Yep.  Where just one part of the international centralised systems failed, BTC came through for him, so he won't be sleeping on the street tonight.

[botany]

Got a call from a friend who has another friend from USA who is currently in Myanmar for a few weeks.

Issue is, USA apparently has just blocked VISA use there, so he can't get cash out of the ATM, and his bank claims they didn't know.

My friend this side of the border calls me and asks if BTC can help (the guy has BTC with him over in Myanmar).  Quick search on localbitcoins.com, found someone prepared to do the deal (via Western Union unfortunately), and problem solved.

Not the most efficient way of digging yourself out of a short term hole, but without the BTC he would be in a tight spot.

USA won't be pleased that their sanctions aren't that effective. 

[manselr]

Unfortunately you still need to use regular banking in most cases (western union) coz meeting people in real life is hard.

[koelen3]

Nice story!
See Bitcoin always help's