Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login
Why would anyone spend bitcoins? (purse.io)
2 points by 2drew3 on May 6, 2014 | hide | past | favorite | 5 comments



"Merchant adoption is not THE barrier to Bitcoin commerce - it’s the lack of incentive to spend."

Merchants accepting Bitcoin is a brain dead decision. "How would you like to save over 50% on payment processing?" is the easiest sales pitch around. The real challenge is convincing Bitcoin holders to spend.


This is an even greater hurdle to overcome now that spending a Bitcoin is a taxable event. According to the IRS, precisely which Bitcoin you spend has significant consequences. Without fungiblity, Bitcoin is not a practical currency.


Applications that will automatically keep track of these events are on the horizon. The cryptocurrency industry is still in its infancy.


Great point. Hopefully, IRS will reconsider and treat BTC as a currency.


love what you guys are doing at purse.io. We plan on accepting bitcoin soon as well!




Consider applying for YC's Fall 2025 batch! Applications are open till Aug 4

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: