Over the past week I've been selling BFL Singles (FPGA) on eBay until today I got the following email from PayPal. (below)
TL;DR:
PayPal may not be used to sell e-currency, such as bitcoins, bitcoin mining units, and other related bitcoin products.
This is news to me, as I'm pretty sure Butterfly Labs has been taking in millions of $ via PayPal, along with all the sales facilitated through these forums. My PayPal account was actually locked yesterday due to someone paying me as a "gift" transaction (I didn't request this- he just sent it that way) and I called them and explained what I was selling, showed them a few PayPal transactions where I purchased the BFL Singles to prove that they weren't stolen, and had my account unlocked. I even called eBay and had my selling limit increased and told the customer support rep that I was selling bitcoin mining hardware.
So take it as a warning- be careful if you use PayPal for anything related to Bitcoin. I currently have thousands of USD locked up in PayPal that I can't get to; if this isn't a good reason for the use of Bitcoin then I don't know what is.
Unfortunately it's still not easy to pay everyday expenses in BTC. :/
Full email:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We need your help
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear (removed),
We have reviewed your PayPal account and found that you are selling bitcoin
mining machines. Per our current Acceptable Use Policy for Money Service
Businesses, PayPal may not be used to operate a currency exchange, bureau
de change or check cashing business including the sale of bitcoins, bitcoin
mining units, and other related bitcoin products.
To continue using your PayPal account, we need some additional information
from you. Keep in mind that we have placed a limitation on your PayPal
account, and this limitation will remain until we receive and review this
information. Please provide us with the following:
• A brief affidavit stating that you understand and will comply with
PayPal's terms and conditions.
• The type of payments you will send and receive, including the type of
goods or services you will accept payments for in the future.
Below you will find suggested affidavit language. Please make sure that the
requested affidavit is signed and notarized.
I the undersigned do affirm that I understand and will comply with PayPal's
policy regarding the use of PayPal Accounts to sell e-currency, such as
bitcoins, bitcoin mining units, and other related bitcoin products. I
understand that PayPal may not be used to sell e-currency, such as
bitcoins, bitcoin mining units, and other related bitcoin products. I
further affirm that any further detected violation of the policy may result
in the immediate closure of, or restriction to access to the account.
Please log in to your account and go to the Resolution Center to find out
what you need to do. Your account will remain limited until the issue is
resolved.
Additionally, in the future, if we find that your account is acting as a
seller of bitcoin products, we will need to sever our business relationship
with you.
We look forward to hearing from you and thank you for choosing PayPal as
your business partner.
Sincerely,
Megan
PayPal Compliance Department
PayPal, an eBay Company
Please do not reply to this email address as it is not monitored and we
will not receive your response. You can get in touch with us by clicking
"Contact Us" at the bottom of any PayPal page.
Copyright © 1999-2013 PayPal. All rights reserved.