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Topic: Shift - Bitcoin Visa Card - now available in the US (Read 4767 times)

legendary
Activity: 3038
Merit: 1660
lose: unfind ... loose: untight
Are you still happy? 

I got one as soon as they became available in my state. Happy. Usable everywhere. Almost free. What's not to like?
legendary
Activity: 1386
Merit: 1000
KawBet.com - Anonymous Bitcoin Casino & Sportsbook
Other then that very happy with the Shift card.
Are you still happy?  I haven't heard anything about these guys in a while.  What is going on at Shift?
hero member
Activity: 1061
Merit: 502
RIP: S5, A faithful device long time
When this coming to Finland?  Huh Can i order this card on US?
hero member
Activity: 882
Merit: 500
Where am I?
I like my shift card, use it from time to time for lunches etc.  Two things to note though.

When you use it at the gas pump it holds like $150 worth of BTC then gives it back after the final amount clears
When you use it at some restaurants it holds an automatic 15% grat, which is returned or increased depending if you tipped more or less once the transaction clears

Other then that very happy with the Shift card.
legendary
Activity: 3038
Merit: 1660
lose: unfind ... loose: untight
Coinbase is a big professional company with loads of employees and very professional management.  Very big difference. 

Coinbase is on a different level than MtGox, this is true, however...

If you are not the sole owner of your keys, you are subject to loss. Period.
legendary
Activity: 1596
Merit: 1026
Coinbase is playing really smart, I just hope they do not suddenly go Mt. Gox.
What?!  Mt. Gox was run by some fat French fuck who was a coding buffoon.  Coinbase is a big professional company with loads of employees and very professional management.  Very big difference.  Coinbase isn't going Mt Gox.  That you can't tell the difference indicates you are a perfect scam target.  If I were a scammer, I'd aim straight at you. 
legendary
Activity: 1442
Merit: 1016
Well, I got my Shift card today, tied to Coinbase for BTC.  Activated and ready to go. What should I try and buy first? Kind of excited to try it out and see how it works.
Buy a cup of coffee on Starbucks! Grin

That would be dumb!
You know there exists an app (Fold) with which you can use Bitcoin and save 20% at starbucks?!
I recommend to use this one instead of the shift card.

https://foldapp.com/

https://coffee.foldapp.com/

But pay attention: Fold works at any Starbucks that accepts US gift cards. This includes Canada, Mexico, Australia, Ireland, Hong Kong, UK, Macau, and Spain.
full member
Activity: 399
Merit: 105
Am I the only one that are a little confused here? ....You are obviously a little bit sarcastic right? You used the card and paid "zero" transaction fees...? Why would you call it a scam then... or is that part of the sarcasm? Coinbase are using Bitcoin as the back end and that makes these transactions, dirt cheap.  Huh

Yes, LOTS of sarcasm.  Read below for more explanation.


wow I would just hold the card until the fees are gone or lowered.

Which fees are you concerned about? The $0.00 annual fee? The $0.00 transaction fee?

So what is the downside of using this card? I imagine that you have to had bitcoin wallet at CoinBase. And your coins are converted to FIAT at current market rate with no fees etc.
It sound like ideal solution until direct bitcoin adoption happen.


None.  There are no downsides - unless, you are the average idealistic moronic bitcoin supporter that just likes to b*tch about the banks.  It never ceases to amaze me how absolutely stupid some people are to believe that bitcoin is ever actually going to change anything substantially.  It won't.  It is just money.  It isn't God.  It isn't revolution.  It isn't anything - except the newest pretty sea shell that people use to trade with.  It isn't even anonymous.  I find it hilarious that people still run around spouting about how anonymous bitcoin is.  Sure, if you really really work at it - you can do some anonymous transactions - but if the NSA or any serious entity wants to track someone down over time - they will eventually.  My having a pocket stuffed with dollar bills and handing it to someone is more anonymous than a bitcoin transaction.

The main problem with bitcoin, is that it is just money, THAT ALMOST NO ONE USES OR ACCEPTS!!!  Yet.

What I like about the Debit Card is simple.  I get paid in my little Fiat Dollar world.  It goes into my bank.  I buy bitcoins with that USD Fiat Bank Money almost immediately.  Since bitcoin is pretty much on a slow upward path, most of the time my "money" is increasing, sort of like a really good interest bearing bank account.  Only my current bitcoin account is up about 80% in the past 6 months.  Thats a really nice interest bearing account.  And using my debit card I actually get to buy stuff ANYWHERE in the world.

And that works really really well for me - because I like to be able to SPEND my money.  Actually, that is sort of the purpose of my having money - to spend it.  It is one of the reasons I don't let my customers pay me in Rocks, or chips of wood, or carrots or something.   And up until now I haven't let them pay me in bitcoin either, because I couldn't spend it easily.

Bitcoin = Money (but only when you can spend it)

Get your depit card and start spending your bitcoin, and increasing the flow of bitcoin, and then you will be actually contributing to the growth and infrastructure of the bitcoin monetary ecosystem.  Because if you don't then it will stop being money, and it will eventually die.


OK, somebody totally gets it.  You can hold your paycheck in bitcoin to take advantage of increasing price, and use it whenever you want.  Brilliant.  Improving access 'to' and 'from' Fiat/Bitcoin is really important.  At least this makes the Bitcoin exit really painless and inexpensive.  Now, we just need to work on the reverse where we give $1000 and instantly get some BTC.  Better/more ATMs I guess. 
legendary
Activity: 1568
Merit: 1000
I can't test it but I hope this is one of the first steps into making Bitcoin more easily accesible since right now it's still on its infancy. If more people realize that Bitcoin can become a niche for digital payments so you don't have to register a credit card in every site then most of us will have a Bitcoin wallet loaded with some spare money for trivial things like that. Digital goods, gambling, apps, porn (!?) and many others!
full member
Activity: 140
Merit: 101
It never ceases to amaze me how absolutely stupid some people are to believe that bitcoin is ever actually going to change anything substantially.  It won't.  It is just money.  It isn't God.  It isn't revolution.  It isn't anything - except the newest pretty sea shell that people use to trade with.  

Well, to be fair, it *is* the only form of money with which you can safely cross national borders with large quantities in possession. Which admittedly is something very few anticipate a need for. Until, of course, that moment that they do.
I stand corrected.  I admit that in my comfy life deep in the mountains in North Georgia,, USA - I am not part of the ongoing global migrations going on.  Come on down! Land of milk and honey here Smiley   Bring your bitcoins!  And some gold, silver, seeds, lots of room, all welcome that aren't idiots or religious nuts, or bankers.  Especially bankers.  And lawyers.  And politicians.  OK.... so it is a long list of people not welcome.... just do good, and you'll be good Smiley

Peace,
- david
legendary
Activity: 3038
Merit: 1660
lose: unfind ... loose: untight
It never ceases to amaze me how absolutely stupid some people are to believe that bitcoin is ever actually going to change anything substantially.  It won't.  It is just money.  It isn't God.  It isn't revolution.  It isn't anything - except the newest pretty sea shell that people use to trade with.  

Well, to be fair, it *is* the only form of money with which you can safely cross national borders with large quantities in possession. Which admittedly is something very few anticipate a need for. Until, of course, that moment that they do.
full member
Activity: 140
Merit: 101
Am I the only one that are a little confused here? ....You are obviously a little bit sarcastic right? You used the card and paid "zero" transaction fees...? Why would you call it a scam then... or is that part of the sarcasm? Coinbase are using Bitcoin as the back end and that makes these transactions, dirt cheap.  Huh

Yes, LOTS of sarcasm.  Read below for more explanation.


wow I would just hold the card until the fees are gone or lowered.

Which fees are you concerned about? The $0.00 annual fee? The $0.00 transaction fee?

So what is the downside of using this card? I imagine that you have to had bitcoin wallet at CoinBase. And your coins are converted to FIAT at current market rate with no fees etc.
It sound like ideal solution until direct bitcoin adoption happen.


None.  There are no downsides - unless, you are the average idealistic moronic bitcoin supporter that just likes to b*tch about the banks.  It never ceases to amaze me how absolutely stupid some people are to believe that bitcoin is ever actually going to change anything substantially.  It won't.  It is just money.  It isn't God.  It isn't revolution.  It isn't anything - except the newest pretty sea shell that people use to trade with.  It isn't even anonymous.  I find it hilarious that people still run around spouting about how anonymous bitcoin is.  Sure, if you really really work at it - you can do some anonymous transactions - but if the NSA or any serious entity wants to track someone down over time - they will eventually.  My having a pocket stuffed with dollar bills and handing it to someone is more anonymous than a bitcoin transaction.

The main problem with bitcoin, is that it is just money, THAT ALMOST NO ONE USES OR ACCEPTS!!!  Yet.

What I like about the Debit Card is simple.  I get paid in my little Fiat Dollar world.  It goes into my bank.  I buy bitcoins with that USD Fiat Bank Money almost immediately.  Since bitcoin is pretty much on a slow upward path, most of the time my "money" is increasing, sort of like a really good interest bearing bank account.  Only my current bitcoin account is up about 80% in the past 6 months.  Thats a really nice interest bearing account.  And using my debit card I actually get to buy stuff ANYWHERE in the world.

And that works really really well for me - because I like to be able to SPEND my money.  Actually, that is sort of the purpose of my having money - to spend it.  It is one of the reasons I don't let my customers pay me in Rocks, or chips of wood, or carrots or something.   And up until now I haven't let them pay me in bitcoin either, because I couldn't spend it easily.

Bitcoin = Money (but only when you can spend it)

Get your depit card and start spending your bitcoin, and increasing the flow of bitcoin, and then you will be actually contributing to the growth and infrastructure of the bitcoin monetary ecosystem.  Because if you don't then it will stop being money, and it will eventually die.
legendary
Activity: 1862
Merit: 1004
wow I would just hold the card until the fees are gone or lowered.

Which fees are you concerned about? The $0.00 annual fee? The $0.00 transaction fee?
So what is the downside of using this card? I imagine that you have to had bitcoin wallet at CoinBase. And your coins are converted to FIAT at current market rate with no fees etc.
It sound like ideal solution until direct bitcoin adoption happen.
legendary
Activity: 1904
Merit: 1074
wow I would just hold the card until the fees are gone or lowered.

Which fees are you concerned about? The $0.00 annual fee? The $0.00 transaction fee?
I must admit I am pretty upset.  I received my card.  I activated my card (same process as a normal credit/debit card).  Can you imagine my dismay when I went to a local store, charged up some stuff, had the card work perfectly, arrived home and saw the email notification I had set up to alert me a transaction had occurred (for security reasons until I get used to this), and then I logged into my Coinbase account to see exactly how the whole process worked, the money transfer went etc.

And there was Nothing!  No fee whatsoever!  They have the unmitigated gall to create a card that acts seemlessly throughout the entire world's existing Visa network, operates as it should, makes it super easy to keep most of my money in Bitcoin, and spend it directly almost everywhere in the world - and I don't have to pay ANYTHING for that privilege.

What a scam!  Sheeesh!  Dang this system!  I just know they are up to something.  I'll figure it out yet!

Am I the only one that are a little confused here? ....You are obviously a little bit sarcastic right? You used the card and paid "zero" transaction fees...? Why would you call it a

scam then... or is that part of the sarcasm? Coinbase are using Bitcoin as the back end and that makes these transactions, dirt cheap.  Huh
full member
Activity: 399
Merit: 105
wow I would just hold the card until the fees are gone or lowered.

Which fees are you concerned about? The $0.00 annual fee? The $0.00 transaction fee?
I must admit I am pretty upset.  I received my card.  I activated my card (same process as a normal credit/debit card).  Can you imagine my dismay when I went to a local store, charged up some stuff, had the card work perfectly, arrived home and saw the email notification I had set up to alert me a transaction had occurred (for security reasons until I get used to this), and then I logged into my Coinbase account to see exactly how the whole process worked, the money transfer went etc.

And there was Nothing!  No fee whatsoever!  They have the unmitigated gall to create a card that acts seemlessly throughout the entire world's existing Visa network, operates as it should, makes it super easy to keep most of my money in Bitcoin, and spend it directly almost everywhere in the world - and I don't have to pay ANYTHING for that privilege.

What a scam!  Sheeesh!  Dang this system!  I just know they are up to something.  I'll figure it out yet!

Yeah, like this guy...
wow I would just hold the card until the fees are gone or lowered.

I am waiting until the fees go 'lower' - lower than zero.  Then I'll get one too.
full member
Activity: 140
Merit: 101
wow I would just hold the card until the fees are gone or lowered.

Which fees are you concerned about? The $0.00 annual fee? The $0.00 transaction fee?
I must admit I am pretty upset.  I received my card.  I activated my card (same process as a normal credit/debit card).  Can you imagine my dismay when I went to a local store, charged up some stuff, had the card work perfectly, arrived home and saw the email notification I had set up to alert me a transaction had occurred (for security reasons until I get used to this), and then I logged into my Coinbase account to see exactly how the whole process worked, the money transfer went etc.

And there was Nothing!  No fee whatsoever!  They have the unmitigated gall to create a card that acts seemlessly throughout the entire world's existing Visa network, operates as it should, makes it super easy to keep most of my money in Bitcoin, and spend it directly almost everywhere in the world - and I don't have to pay ANYTHING for that privilege.

What a scam!  Sheeesh!  Dang this system!  I just know they are up to something.  I'll figure it out yet!
legendary
Activity: 3038
Merit: 1660
lose: unfind ... loose: untight
wow I would just hold the card until the fees are gone or lowered.

Which fees are you concerned about? The $0.00 annual fee? The $0.00 transaction fee?
sr. member
Activity: 434
Merit: 250
★Bitvest.io★ Play Plinko or Invest!
wow I would just hold the card until the fees are gone or lowered. I know banks had fees and stuff
also back in the day when atm cards first came out.
newbie
Activity: 56
Merit: 0
Wow great can i buy
hero member
Activity: 874
Merit: 1000
Well, I got my Shift card today, tied to Coinbase for BTC.  Activated and ready to go. What should I try and buy first? Kind of excited to try it out and see how it works.
Buy a cup of coffee on Starbucks! Grin

Is that it?  That's the end of this discussion?  No more news about Shift Visa card?  Two weeks passed and no body cares any longer about having a debit card tied to their bitcoin at coinbase.  Wow, I thought this would be more exciting. 

Maybe someone has actually used one and has a story or two to tell?
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