Bitcoin Bytes: Bitcoin - The Libertarian Introduction

Saturday, 14 April 2012

Bitcoin - The Libertarian Introduction

Written by Erik Voorhees - April 11, 2012

Full article here:

Bitcoin Primer - What it is, how it's used, and why you should care.

Originally published in Freedom's Phoenix Magazine - April 13, 2012

Republish, copy, and distribute at will.

Bitcoin-Getting Started - Qwik start

How you can get started with Bitcoin:

1. Watch the intro video: http://www.weusecoins.com/. Browse this site.

2. Download the MultiBit lightweight client for managing Bitcoin on your own computer: http://multibit.org/

3. Sign up for a Mt. Gox exchange account for buying and selling Bitcoin, and also for storing Bitcoins if you don't trust the security of your own computer: https://mtgox.com/ If you are in the UK, sign up for an Intersango exchange account at Intersango Ltd

4. You can either deposit and withdraw funds to/from Mt. Gox/Intersango directly, or for greater speed use BitInstant: https://www.bitinstant.com/

5. Check out the official Bitcoin website: http://bitcoin.org/ if you prefer, you can also download the full Bitcoin client and wallet here using the latest software version. Instead of the lite version at 2. above

6. Check out the official Bitcoin forums for loads more info: https://bitcointalk.org/

7. If you're feeling particularly studious, get into the Bitcoin wiki: https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Main_Page

Useful Resources Bytes

WeUseCoins.org - Best place for beginners to start.

QuickCo.in - Best way to buy Bitcoins for beginners

BitInstant.com - Allows quick purchases of Bitcoin via anonymous cash deposits at major banks across the US. This is currently the easiest and fastest way to buy Bitcoin in the US.

Bitcoin.org - Official site of the Bitcoin project, download the wallet software here.

MtGox.com - The leading Bitcoin exchange. Buy and sell Bitcoins here.

CryptoXChange.com - Another popular Bitcoin exchange. Buy and sell Bitcoins here.

Paytunia.com - Very nice online ewallet service with Android app. Store your coins here.

BitcoinTalk.org - The official discussion forum, and large enthusiast community

Wiki.Bitcoin.it - Encyclopedia of most aggregated Bitcoin knowledge, very extensive.

Bitcoin.it/wiki/trade - Partial list of companies that accept Bitcoin as payment

BitcoinMagazine.net - Professional publication and news portal

Blockchain.info - Tool for viewing accounts, payments, and numerous economic statistics.

BitcoinCharts.com - Shows current market prices and economic statistics.

Preev.com - Super easy Bitcoin to fiat calculator, multiple currencies supported

BitcoinMonitor.com - Live view of transactions as they happen on the Bitcoin network.

Paysius.com - Enables businesses to automatically accept Bitcoin payments on their website.

Coinabul.com - Leading gold and silver bullion seller for Bitcoin

SpendBitcoins.com - Enables you to buy credit with major brands like Amazon and Southwest Airlines for Bitcoin.

WorkForBitcoin.com - Bitcoin job board - freelance projects which pay in Bitcoin.

StuffExists.com - Extensive repository of hundreds of other resources.

Who made this?

Michael is an entrepreneurial banker, finance professional and Bitcoin Advisor/Shaper - the elegant protocol of Bitcoin is his enthusiasm, passion and promotion.

Michael has led two banks from potential bankruptcy - one in the UK and another overseas; both had accumulated la large impaired loan books, many years ahead of the global banking crisis triggered in 2007/8.

Bitcoin has perhaps the potential to be as big as the advent of the Internet itself - and to be very very disruptive to the making and receiving of payments. Payments made in Bitcoins are made at very low fees - a few cents only. So Long Paypal....