A lot of people look at the price of a bitcoin as a measure of it's success. While that is one metric that can tell you something about it's perceived value, it is not the most important one. Adoption is what I look at. Who is using bitcoin, and what new use cases are evolving? Below is a case in point.
I have just returned from some time in the middle east. I always try to meet with fellow bitcoin peers when I travel. I saw a number of stores accepting bitcoin in Israel, but only found one tea shop in Amman Jordan. Assuming that it had not caught on in Jordan, I didn't really look harder.
The Arab guy with me in the picture is Khalid. I rented some camels from him in Wadi Rum when I was doing some desert trekking. He was a an interesting guy who had taught himself about computers. When I (inevitably) brought up the subject of bitcoin, I about fell off my camel. He responded with "Yeah, I know what they are, I use them myself". Turns out he has bitcoins and was pursuing a payment processor so that he can start accepting them for his guide services!
Since he deals with visitors from around the world it is easier for him to take BTC than other currencies. He spends them online to buy things that are hard to get in Jordan, things like digital cameras and Japanese electronics. He also liked not paying 3% to the credit card companies. He needed nothing more than a bank account and a smartphone to run the money side of his business in the middle of the desert.
This is why I think bitcoin's growth is just beginning. It is getting easier for me to find places that take BTC all the time. That penetration is now reaching out beyond cities and tech savvy circles.
If you find yourself in beautiful Jordan, I highly recommend his camp in Wadi Rum. He offers a place to stay with great food, jeep, horse, or camel treks. I chose him without any bitcoin connection, but knowing he will take them in payment is the icing on the cake.
I have just returned from some time in the middle east. I always try to meet with fellow bitcoin peers when I travel. I saw a number of stores accepting bitcoin in Israel, but only found one tea shop in Amman Jordan. Assuming that it had not caught on in Jordan, I didn't really look harder.
The Arab guy with me in the picture is Khalid. I rented some camels from him in Wadi Rum when I was doing some desert trekking. He was a an interesting guy who had taught himself about computers. When I (inevitably) brought up the subject of bitcoin, I about fell off my camel. He responded with "Yeah, I know what they are, I use them myself". Turns out he has bitcoins and was pursuing a payment processor so that he can start accepting them for his guide services!
Since he deals with visitors from around the world it is easier for him to take BTC than other currencies. He spends them online to buy things that are hard to get in Jordan, things like digital cameras and Japanese electronics. He also liked not paying 3% to the credit card companies. He needed nothing more than a bank account and a smartphone to run the money side of his business in the middle of the desert.
This is why I think bitcoin's growth is just beginning. It is getting easier for me to find places that take BTC all the time. That penetration is now reaching out beyond cities and tech savvy circles.
If you find yourself in beautiful Jordan, I highly recommend his camp in Wadi Rum. He offers a place to stay with great food, jeep, horse, or camel treks. I chose him without any bitcoin connection, but knowing he will take them in payment is the icing on the cake.
brilliant!
love it
