Apr 10
Apr 09
This Video Explains Everything You Need to Know About Bitcoin in Three Minutes
Posted in: Today's Chili
What is a bitcoin? Like exactly? It’s digital currency and it’s been around for a while now so what’s all the fuss these days? It’s because more and more places are accepting bitcoins as real currency. If you’re still a little bit confused on where bitcoins come from (or how you can just invent digital currency), watch the video explainer above by Duncan Elms. Get to mining. [Duncan Elms via Digg] More »
Mar 22
Companies that distribute and exchange Bitcoin will now be subject to the same rules as Western Union. The hope is to crackdown on Bitcoin-related crime. More »
Feb 17
Kim Dotcom’s Mega has been marching on into the future, so far without any sort of considerable pestering from one pesky United States government. In the meantime, Dotcom’s been doing his best to beef the service up, offering cash money to anyone who can strengthen its encryption. And now Mega is taking Bitcoin. Because of course. More »
Feb 16
Mega now accepts Bitcoin as payment, also hints at e-mail, chat, voice expansion
Posted in: Today's ChiliKim Dotcom has just announced through Twitter that Mega, his successor to Megaupload, will now be accepting Bitcoin as payment for its cloud storage services. You can purchase your Mega service with Bitcoin through Mega’s newest reseller, Bitvoucher. Bitcoin is a P2P digital currency that allows you to instantly make a payment to anyone, anywhere in the world. It does not operate under a central authority, such as banks or the government, but instead is operated by only the Bitcoin network. This allows everyone to be able to use its services, and it also allows users to make payments that cannot be traced by the government.
You have 6 options to choose from when buying the Mega services through Bitvoucher. There are 3 monthly options, ranging from 500GB for 0.5150 Bitcoin to 4TB for 1.5462 Bitcoin. There are also 3 yearly options, with 500GB for 5.1551 Bitcoin (which comes out to about 0.4296 Bitcoin per month) to 4TB for 15.4663 Bitcoin (about 1.2889 Bitcoin per month).
Dotcom also tweeted that Mega plans on offering secure e-mail, chat & voice, video, and “mobile” services. He talks about how services such as Gmail, iCloud, and Skype are based in the U.S., making them not private enough. The data contained in this services can be viewed by the U.S. government if they demand access to them. His tweet regarding the issue says, “Fact: Gmail, iCloud, Skype, etc. have to provide (by law) secret & untraceable NSA backdoors to all your data. #GetOutNow.”
Dotcom says that Mega is all about privacy and that they are “The Privacy Company”. It wants no roots with the U.S. government and wants to offer users a safe and private place for them to share data. Mega has come a long way, reaching over 3 million users in only 4 weeks. It’s definitely gone a long way in a short amount of time, and it’d be interesting to see where it’s headed next. Are you using the Mega cloud-storage service?
[via Dotcom]
Mega now accepts Bitcoin as payment, also hints at e-mail, chat, voice expansion is written by Brian Sin & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Dec 09
Bitcoin-Central becomes first Bitcoin exchange licensed to operate like a bank
Posted in: Today's Chili 
BitInstant may be aiming for a Bitcoin debit card, but it looks like a European Bitcoin exchange will beat it to the punch. After working with French financial regulators, Bitcoin-Central has hammered out a deal with French payment processor Acoba and France’s Credit Mutuel bank to become a payment service provider, which allows it to function much like a bank. According to Bitcoin-Central, it’s the first exchange of the digital currency to be licensed to operate as a bank and function within the framework of European regulations. Customers will now have funds held under their name — rather than that of the exchange — at Credit Mutuel and insured by the Garantie des dépôts, the French analog of the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation). Soon, users of the service will be able to order debit cards that can use Bitcoins and Euros for purchases and cash withdrawals. Yearning for some direct deposit action? In a few months, the organization will be able to accept direct deposits and even automatically convert hard-earned cash into Bitcoins. The virtual bullion has taken its lumps, but this is a development that fans of the currency can be proud of. For more details, tap the bordering source link.
[Image credit: Zach Copley, Flickr]
Via: Ars Technica
Source: Bitcoin Forum
Sep 04
Bitcoin Exchange Bitfloor Suspends Operations Following $250K Hacker Heist [Bitcoin]
Posted in: Today's Chili
Last night, several of the servers belonging to Bitcoin exchange Bitfloor were hacked, $250,000 in Bitcoins (24,000 coins) stolen. An open letter from the Bitfloor’s founder (reproduced below) explains what happened—and what action will be taken to compensate those whose accounts were compromised. For now, Bitfloor has been shut completely. More »
Aug 22
Well, BitInstant is insistent that it will launch a BitCoin debit card, but MasterCard is claiming it will not be part of the plans. After a mock up of the plastic made the rounds featuring the company’s logo, the financial powerhouse felt it necessary to reach out to us, clarifying its non-involvement.
“MasterCard has no relationship with BitInstant. There are issuers who allow the conversion of Bitcoins to US dollars and other currencies, delivered on prepaid cards. However, we’re not aware of this particular programme from BitInstant.”
Of course, if you read the transcript of Charlie Shrem’s chat announcing the plans, he never actually names MasterCard. The logo was likely meant as a placeholder — one that some outlets took a little too literally.
Interestingly, this doesn’t actually mean that MasterCard won’t be involved… just that the company isn’t at this point in the process. BitInstant released its own statement, just hours after the card house contacted us, saying that it has been working with MasterCard affiliates, but had yet to submit to the financial firm directly.
“The card program is moving forward and the arrangement with MasterCard will be handled in due time at the proper stage of the process by the partners who work directly with that company.”
So, what have we learned today? Not a whole heck of a lot actually, other than the fact that putting out a debit card is a complicated business. You’ll just have to stay tuned to see how this shakes out.
Filed under: Internet
MasterCard denies BitCoin card rumors, BitInstant says it’s still on track originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 19:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Aug 20
BitInstant founder says BitCoin debit card to launch within next two months
Posted in: Today's Chili
A BitCoin debit card could be in your very near future thanks to the efforts of trader-backed BitInstant. That fund transfer outfit, dedicated solely to the digital currency, has partnered with an undisclosed international bank to launch a branded debit card within six to eight weeks. News of the development first surfaced yesterday during an online chat with company co-founder, Charlie Shrem, in which he confirmed the cards would cost users $10 apiece to purchase and carry a 1% bitcoin transfer fee, as well as $1.50 ATM withdrawal fee. To further streamline the exchange process, users will be able to make quick transfers under $1000 by scanning a QR code overlay on front or by accessing the personal BitCoin address listed on back — all possible with a single confirmation. Initially, the cards will be denominated solely for USD, GBP and EUR, but more foreign currencies could soon be added in the lead up to its official debut. For now, those are the only bits Shrem was willing to share, as further details on this plastic alternative will be forthcoming prior to official launch. Until then, there’s always AMEX.
Filed under: Internet
BitInstant founder says BitCoin debit card to launch within next two months originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Aug 2012 23:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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