Author

Topic: Coinbase - Become an Investor - Good Investment? (Read 9581 times)

legendary
Activity: 1148
Merit: 1000
September 05, 2014, 04:13:28 AM
#35
nice investment!

anybody still hold their shares?

 Grin
full member
Activity: 324
Merit: 100
How many shares?  How did you come by them?  I will pm you now
hero member
Activity: 910
Merit: 1005
I have some shares in coinbase.com available for sale. PM me if interested.
full member
Activity: 324
Merit: 100
Which particular points are you referring to?
sr. member
Activity: 252
Merit: 250
I think it's a bad investment.  Some good points in the reddit thread

http://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/z19z8/coinbase_a_paypal_for_bitcoin_is_looking_for_250k/
hero member
Activity: 868
Merit: 1008
In a way, buying bitcoins is an investment in all bitcoin related companies.  You'll stand to benefit if any one or several of them are successful.

So why are you involved with bit-pay? You could have just bought up a bunch of BTC instead. Are you doing charity work for the rest of us?  Grin
I didn't say not to invest in specific companies you might think will be successful...just commenting on the nature of buying and holding bitcoin.  The infrastructure around bitcoin (that individuals and businesses create) will increase the value of bitcoin itself.  Likewise, the increasing value of bitcoin helps those businesses finance themselves (assuming the businesses have themselves invested in bitcoin).  Clearly, if everyone just bought bitcoin and then sat on their ass, bitcoin wouldn't end up being nearly as valuable.  But, just buying and holding bitcoin does help bitcoin businesses.  You are deferring consumption and allocating capital to the bitcoin ecosystem.

A company that has a significant amount of money invested in Bitcoin directly is crazy. Bitcoin can lose half of its value in an hour. That's not something you can build a business on...
Any Bitcoin business that isn't investing in Bitcoin is crazy, if not schizophrenic.  A Bitcoin business is investing in Bitcoin by definition.  If Bitcoin doesn't succeed, neither will the business.  Now, certainly prudent investing is advisable.  The value of Bitcoin is volatile and risky, so any investment should be regarded as such.
full member
Activity: 324
Merit: 100
Coinbase.  Yes it's a wallet service.  Seems pretty simple though and has silcon valley backers.  I'm sure security is one of their top prioroties
legendary
Activity: 1204
Merit: 1002
RUM AND CARROTS: A PIRATE LIFE FOR ME
Bitcoin currently is a bit confusing to those normal internet users who aren't savy with the latest tech news.  I think something like coinbase will help in alleviating that confusion.  Its modeled after paypal but doesn't charge any transaction fees.  Should catch on well. 

"Its modeled after paypal but doesn't charge any transaction fees."

Um, are you describing Coinbase or Bitcoin because all coinbase offers at the moment is another ewallet service. And we don't know how secure it is either.
full member
Activity: 324
Merit: 100
Bitcoin currently is a bit confusing to those normal internet users who aren't savy with the latest tech news.  I think something like coinbase will help in alleviating that confusion.  Its modeled after paypal but doesn't charge any transaction fees.  Should catch on well. 
legendary
Activity: 1190
Merit: 1000
www.bitcointrading.com
Why don't they accept bitcoin donations?
sr. member
Activity: 288
Merit: 251
In a way, buying bitcoins is an investment in all bitcoin related companies.  You'll stand to benefit if any one or several of them are successful.

So why are you involved with bit-pay? You could have just bought up a bunch of BTC instead. Are you doing charity work for the rest of us?  Grin
I didn't say not to invest in specific companies you might think will be successful...just commenting on the nature of buying and holding bitcoin.  The infrastructure around bitcoin (that individuals and businesses create) will increase the value of bitcoin itself.  Likewise, the increasing value of bitcoin helps those businesses finance themselves (assuming the businesses have themselves invested in bitcoin).  Clearly, if everyone just bought bitcoin and then sat on their ass, bitcoin wouldn't end up being nearly as valuable.  But, just buying and holding bitcoin does help bitcoin businesses.  You are deferring consumption and allocating capital to the bitcoin ecosystem.

A company that has a significant amount of money invested in Bitcoin directly is crazy. Bitcoin can lose half of its value in an hour. That's not something you can build a business on...
sr. member
Activity: 420
Merit: 250
tell me again why we want to have more hosted wallet sites? it just seems like an incredible target for hacking.

actually, have any exchanges escaped hacking yet?
hero member
Activity: 868
Merit: 1008
In a way, buying bitcoins is an investment in all bitcoin related companies.  You'll stand to benefit if any one or several of them are successful.

So why are you involved with bit-pay? You could have just bought up a bunch of BTC instead. Are you doing charity work for the rest of us?  Grin
I didn't say not to invest in specific companies you might think will be successful...just commenting on the nature of buying and holding bitcoin.  The infrastructure around bitcoin (that individuals and businesses create) will increase the value of bitcoin itself.  Likewise, the increasing value of bitcoin helps those businesses finance themselves (assuming the businesses have themselves invested in bitcoin).  Clearly, if everyone just bought bitcoin and then sat on their ass, bitcoin wouldn't end up being nearly as valuable.  But, just buying and holding bitcoin does help bitcoin businesses.  You are deferring consumption and allocating capital to the bitcoin ecosystem.
newbie
Activity: 48
Merit: 0
Can someone explain this: https://thefundersclub.com/download/legal/39/ ?

Quote
- Convertible note converting to Preferred Stock upon first Qualified Equity Financing at the price per share of the financing round with a maximum pre-money valuation of $10M

- If more favorable terms are offered to subsequent note holders, the fund may elect to receive those terms

-Converts at a $5M pre-money valuation to Series AA Preferred Stock if no Qualified Equity Financing occurs within 2 years of note, w/weighted average anti-dilution and 1x liquidation preference

-Converts at lesser of $5M or fair market value to Preferred Stock if Change of Control or IPO occurs within 2 years of note without a Qualified Equity Financing, or the note may be paid off at fund’s option
full member
Activity: 324
Merit: 100
After reading the documents about coinbase on thefundersclub it appears that their valuation for this funding is $5 million.  So they are giving away 5% equity for $250k.  Not positive on this.  Not a securities lawyer Smiley
legendary
Activity: 980
Merit: 1020
Yes you can, investing in bitcoin means putting trust in it which in exchange raises trust levels in other individuals, who build an ecosystem around it.



And somebody still have to build their niches.
legendary
Activity: 924
Merit: 1004
Firstbits: 1pirata
...

Because you need an ecosystem for bitcoin to be successful. You can't just buy bitcoin and expect the ecosystem to grow.

Yes you can, investing in bitcoin means putting trust in it which in exchange raises trust levels in other individuals, who build an ecosystem around it.

https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.1130677

When you save money, you produce but do not consume. That's great. You deposit but do not withdraw, loaning everyone else use of the benefits of your labor. Deferred consumption should be rewarded as it's a form of investment.

legendary
Activity: 980
Merit: 1020
In a way, buying bitcoins is an investment in all bitcoin related companies.  You'll stand to benefit if any one or several of them are successful.

So why are you involved with bit-pay? You could have just bought up a bunch of BTC instead. Are you doing charity work for the rest of us?  Grin

Because you need an ecosystem for bitcoin to be successful. You can't just buy bitcoin and expect the ecosystem to grow.
sr. member
Activity: 288
Merit: 251
In a way, buying bitcoins is an investment in all bitcoin related companies.  You'll stand to benefit if any one or several of them are successful.

So why are you involved with bit-pay? You could have just bought up a bunch of BTC instead. Are you doing charity work for the rest of us?  Grin
hero member
Activity: 868
Merit: 1008
In a way, buying bitcoins is an investment in all bitcoin related companies.  You'll stand to benefit if any one or several of them are successful.
sr. member
Activity: 434
Merit: 251
I agree that it's probably a good investment, and I also would like to see projects like that grow.
But don't you think investing in BTC is better at this point ?
If coinbase take off, then btc will also take off. The opposite is not necessarily true

Thoughts ?
legendary
Activity: 1722
Merit: 1004
Yeah, lots of Kickstarter-like sites, but for actual equity, are springing up (will launch when the regs go into effect next year). I predict kind-of a wild-west of crowd-equity-funding for a couple years. Startups should have much easier access to seed capital, until enough un-diligent people/investors get burned sufficiently to yield a bunch of irritating negative press. So there'll be a big pull-back, etc, but long-term, I'm optimistic that this will really help good teams with good ideas get funding quicker and easier than now.
donator
Activity: 1218
Merit: 1079
Gerald Davis
Looks like this is being done through thefundersclub.com.

...

So you have to be fairly wealthy to invest. Lame lame lame. Sad

The good news is US securities laws will change in "January 2013 ? don't quote me on the date " and will allow crowd funding by investors who are not "accredited" (i.e. us normal shlubs).  Probably the only decent piece of legislation Obama has passed.
legendary
Activity: 1722
Merit: 1004
Looks like this is being done through thefundersclub.com.

From their 'How It Works' page https://thefundersclub.com/site/howitworks/:

Quote
Who can invest in FundersClub funds?
Accredited US investors can invest in FundersClub funds. Accredited investors are defined as individuals with greater than $200,000 of annual income (or $300,000 combined income with a spouse) or investors with $1 million or greater personal net worth, not including their primary residence. Entities in which all of the equity owners fall within the “individual” qualifications, as well as trusts with total assets greater than $5 million whose purchase is directed by a person with knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that such person is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the prospective investment may also invest. All potential investors will need to complete an investor qualification questionnaire, which will be part of the legal documents you will need to sign, before any investment request is accepted.

So you have to be fairly wealthy to invest. Lame lame lame. Sad

Either fairly wealthy or married and wealthy. Not nice. I would be more supportive if coinbase reached out to the community more.


I don't know much about coinbase (yet), but the investor restrictions are due to SEC regs. The JOBS act passed this spring actually opens up these restrictions considerably, allowing for true equity crowd-funding in the US. The SEC will probably have their regs revised sometime mid next year.
legendary
Activity: 1204
Merit: 1002
RUM AND CARROTS: A PIRATE LIFE FOR ME
Looks like this is being done through thefundersclub.com.

From their 'How It Works' page https://thefundersclub.com/site/howitworks/:

Quote
Who can invest in FundersClub funds?
Accredited US investors can invest in FundersClub funds. Accredited investors are defined as individuals with greater than $200,000 of annual income (or $300,000 combined income with a spouse) or investors with $1 million or greater personal net worth, not including their primary residence. Entities in which all of the equity owners fall within the “individual” qualifications, as well as trusts with total assets greater than $5 million whose purchase is directed by a person with knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that such person is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the prospective investment may also invest. All potential investors will need to complete an investor qualification questionnaire, which will be part of the legal documents you will need to sign, before any investment request is accepted.

So you have to be fairly wealthy to invest. Lame lame lame. Sad

Either fairly wealthy or married and wealthy. Not nice. I would be more supportive if coinbase reached out to the community more.
sr. member
Activity: 288
Merit: 251
Looks like this is being done through thefundersclub.com.

From their 'How It Works' page https://thefundersclub.com/site/howitworks/:

Quote
Who can invest in FundersClub funds?
Accredited US investors can invest in FundersClub funds. Accredited investors are defined as individuals with greater than $200,000 of annual income (or $300,000 combined income with a spouse) or investors with $1 million or greater personal net worth, not including their primary residence. Entities in which all of the equity owners fall within the “individual” qualifications, as well as trusts with total assets greater than $5 million whose purchase is directed by a person with knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that such person is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the prospective investment may also invest. All potential investors will need to complete an investor qualification questionnaire, which will be part of the legal documents you will need to sign, before any investment request is accepted.

So you have to be fairly wealthy to invest. Lame lame lame. Sad
sr. member
Activity: 352
Merit: 250
Brian made a bold claim on the Huff Po live show that an African country will adopt bitcoin in 5 to 10 years.  I wonder if there are plans in his company to make this happen.

I just want to point out this kind of thing already happens in Africa. (sort of)
In lands like Zimbabwe where the coin just keep deflating because the government keeps printing money. The people almost stop using the national currency. They use pre-paid cellphone credit. So in stead op paying cash, they send pre-paid credit to the other persons cell phone. The pre-paid currency is in $ so it doesn't deflate and their money is safe this way.

If you see this, I see a place for bitcoin in this system. The only problem is you still need an internet connected phone to do this. If this problem gets solved, I see it as a possibility a country would adopt this currency (as a secondary currency used by the people).

-Timbo925
sr. member
Activity: 476
Merit: 250
Very interesting. How many percent of the company does the full $250K represent in stock?

If you find an answer, please post here. I couldn't find the info either.
legendary
Activity: 1304
Merit: 1015
Brian made a bold claim on the Huff Po live show that an African country will adopt bitcoin in 5 to 10 years.  I wonder if there are plans in his company to make this happen.

I thought he said a country will adopt bitcoin within 5 years.

The only question is: which country would be so bold as to adopt bitcoin as their official currency?

Maybe not the boldest country but the country with the most inflation.
legendary
Activity: 980
Merit: 1020
Brian made a bold claim on the Huff Po live show that an African country will adopt bitcoin in 5 to 10 years.  I wonder if there are plans in his company to make this happen.

I thought he said a country will adopt bitcoin within 5 years.

The only question is: which country would be so bold as to adopt bitcoin as their official currency?
legendary
Activity: 1304
Merit: 1015
Brian made a bold claim on the Huff Po live show that an African country will adopt bitcoin in 5 to 10 years.  I wonder if there are plans in his company to make this happen.
legendary
Activity: 1458
Merit: 1006
Very interesting. How many percent of the company does the full $250K represent in stock?
legendary
Activity: 980
Merit: 1020
Investing in coinbase is also betting that bitcoin is going to take off. It's a double bet.
hero member
Activity: 490
Merit: 500
I think coinbase will have a bright future..

Lets see here:

Recent Investors:

Y Combinator (including Andreessen Horowitz, SV Angel, Yuri Milner, and General Catalyst), Alexis Ohanian, Greg Kidd, Garry Tan, and Harj Taggar.


What will I get when I invest?

Ownership in units of a fund set up for investment in Coinbase (see Investment Terms for details)
Membership in FundersClub Investor Club - network of FundersClub investors that get special invitations and early access to deals, invitations to private events with FundersClub investors and founders, membership gifts and other benefits
Thank you video from CEO
Inclusion on “Insider investor distribution list” to keep you in the loop when we hit certain milestones and also to ask for targeted help and advice (e.g., if we are looking for a new employee or connection, would love your help!)
Connect with Brian on Linked In

----
full member
Activity: 324
Merit: 100
Have you guys seen that Coinbase is actually accepting equity investments from crowdfunding.  It's listed on TheFundersclub.  What do you guys think?  Is Coinbase a solid investment?  What are the positives and negatives?  Do you use Coinbase currently?  Why or why not?  By the way here is a link to it posted on the Crowd Funding Forum.....

http://crowdfundingforum.com/showthread.php/618-Coinbase

Opinions are appreciated!
Rob
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