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Topic: What's going on with Cavirtex? 89 CAD per BTC? (Read 3511 times)

hero member
Activity: 756
Merit: 501
There is more to Bitcoin than bitcoins.
What is the easiest and fastest way for us canadians to arb on other trading sites
I was thinking I would try bitstamp to see how long it takes for the money to arrive
Obviously there are limits we are not aware of - account closures, USD correspondent banks, hidden costs, low liquidity, AML... The apparent opportunity sometime lasts for days, and it doesn't get arbitraged away. Don't think big boys wouldn't have done it the same moment it showed. Also, there was a months-long reversal recently - again, just sat there out of equilibrium for ever.

Unfortunately, people seldom share the problems of this kind publicly. The only way to learn is the hard and costly way. Good luck.
legendary
Activity: 1582
Merit: 1001
What is the easiest and fastest way for us canadians to arb on other trading sites
I was thinking I would try bitstamp to see how long it takes for the money to arrive
legendary
Activity: 1806
Merit: 1090
Learning the troll avoidance button :)
Great post about BTC purchases Bitcoinstore using Virtex as the exchange. Hadn't thought about that.



Thanks now we just need to convince them to let us use cheaper shipping methods so we can buy lower priced items as well  Grin
sr. member
Activity: 696
Merit: 258
Great post about BTC purchases Bitcoinstore using Virtex as the exchange. Hadn't thought about that.

hero member
Activity: 700
Merit: 500
A pro poker player/sportbettor in Canada pays ZERO tax!!!

No, a recreational player pays no tax. If you do it as a job you're taxed the same as any other person.
full member
Activity: 140
Merit: 100
Hoist the Colours

It's funny no one goes there to purchase cheaper coins.
legendary
Activity: 1414
Merit: 1000
HODL OR DIE
What a good example of thread hijacking...

I was wondering what's up with caVirtex too, and was enjoying the thread until it started diverging at the bottom of the first page...  Sad

Stay on topic guys...

As for wtf is going on with caVirtex, I'm wondering if it will 'pass' and eventually be more in line with Gox.  It would be a good time to buy then!  But the reason may just be, as said earlier in the thread, that people are selling their coins in Canada.  Mining has got unprofitable.  Since electricity is cheap, it took more time for people to switch off.  And with the 30 degree C and above, it's a waste of energy.  At least, during winter, that excess energy is re-used to heat up the home/apartment, and there's effectively zero loss (what's consumed for the rig is saved in heating cost).

Another reasons may also be Canadian laws.  With a lot of uncertainties, people may be slowly cashing in.

As for laws I doubt there is anything the Canadian goverment is doing to stem bitcoin. Canada is agnostic towards sportsbetting, which has it's own problem of "moving assets", whereas the land of the free down south is definitely otherwise. A pro poker player/sportbettor in Canada pays ZERO tax!!!
legendary
Activity: 2282
Merit: 1050
Monero Core Team
Virtex has traded for most of the time below MTGox, and this is to a large part due to the lets heat the home/apartment during winter with the mining rig. Yes there have been exceptions such as this spring but over time the simple reality that Bitcoin mining is more cost effective in Canada than in most other parts of the world will keep prices on Virtex somewhat depressed. This however does not explain the current spreads that are way more than the historical averages, especially during the summer.

1) A more pronounced MTGox - Bitstamp scenario with Canadian buying on MTGox and selling on Virtex. Granted that this is even more crazy than those who are selling on Bitstamp after buying on MTGox, but from the perspective on someone in Canada once "burned" in Japan may think twice about trying their luck in Slovenia
2) Virtex has eliminated cash deposits and added a 1%+0.25 CAD fee for bill-pay deposits when they changed payment providers. So it is now more difficult and expensive to get funds into Virtex. Kind of like a minor version of MTGox in reverse.
sr. member
Activity: 378
Merit: 250
What a good example of thread hijacking...

I was wondering what's up with caVirtex too, and was enjoying the thread until it started diverging at the bottom of the first page...  Sad

Stay on topic guys...

As for wtf is going on with caVirtex, I'm wondering if it will 'pass' and eventually be more in line with Gox.  It would be a good time to buy then!  But the reason may just be, as said earlier in the thread, that people are selling their coins in Canada.  Mining has got unprofitable.  Since electricity is cheap, it took more time for people to switch off.  And with the 30 degree C and above, it's a waste of energy.  At least, during winter, that excess energy is re-used to heat up the home/apartment, and there's effectively zero loss (what's consumed for the rig is saved in heating cost).

Another reasons may also be Canadian laws.  With a lot of uncertainties, people may be slowly cashing in.
legendary
Activity: 4200
Merit: 4887
You're never too old to think young.
My brother organized the Nathan Philips Satoshi Square, he said about 30 people showed up (including a bitcoin startup that came from Waterloo!). Good times. Come to the next one!
Cool. I was hoping there'd be another one soon. Any date set yet? I was out of town for the last one. It pissed me off because I really wanted to be part of an historic event.

I'm curious what prices were like compared to other markets. Also were there any substantial trades (1000s of $$) or just a coin or two, here and there? Do I bring a pocket full of brownies?


I see someone else bumped this thread, so I'll bump my question.

ChrisWilmer or anyone else, what were volumes and prices like at Nathan Philips Satoshi Square? Anyone know? Also, when's the next one?
legendary
Activity: 1806
Merit: 1090
Learning the troll avoidance button :)

You know, with the value difference between Virtex and Bitstamp (what BitPay prices itself against), there is really good opportunity for Canadians to buy something from places like the Bitcoinstore if you convert fiat to BTC and then buy with BTC.

For example, I was looking at this item:
http://www.amazon.ca/Gwhdms52-Wl-Matrix-1080p-100ft/dp/B00CR0LCXK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376957262&sr=8-1&keywords=GWHDMS52
I can only see it for about CAD$407 on Amazon.

However, on Bitcoinstore (https://www.bitcoinstore.com/n-2283990.html) its US$322, or 3.1364 BTC.  Those same BTC right now at Virtex would cost me CAD$93.59 each, or a total of CAD$293.53, a savings of almost 28%!

... unfortunately I don't have cash there now.  Time to do a deposit!

Anyways, just something to note if you are looking to buy.  Opportunities like this may as well be taken advantage of!

I've been buying stuff from the bitcoinstore recently they do a good service the only issue is First Class Shipping is the cheapest method to send goods to Canada Smiley

But definitely saves you cash on larger purchases even considering reselling the damn things

Watched the expose on marketplace and saw some things have ridiculous premiums added to them not that I wasn't aware just geez some things.
sr. member
Activity: 418
Merit: 252
Proud Canuck

You know, with the value difference between Virtex and Bitstamp (what BitPay prices itself against), there is really good opportunity for Canadians to buy something from places like the Bitcoinstore if you convert fiat to BTC and then buy with BTC.

For example, I was looking at this item:
http://www.amazon.ca/Gwhdms52-Wl-Matrix-1080p-100ft/dp/B00CR0LCXK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376957262&sr=8-1&keywords=GWHDMS52
I can only see it for about CAD$407 on Amazon.

However, on Bitcoinstore (https://www.bitcoinstore.com/n-2283990.html) its US$322, or 3.1364 BTC.  Those same BTC right now at Virtex would cost me CAD$93.59 each, or a total of CAD$293.53, a savings of almost 28%!

... unfortunately I don't have cash there now.  Time to do a deposit!

Anyways, just something to note if you are looking to buy.  Opportunities like this may as well be taken advantage of!
hero member
Activity: 756
Merit: 500
The price on Cavirtex is high and low at the same time, (try buying 30 000$ worth)


Arbitrage anyone ?

With the current orderbook there is ~448$ in bitcoin to be made from moving 15 000$ around (160btc).

1. By the time the money get there the opportunity may be lost.

2. You take the risk the wire transfer get stuck or having your bank account shut down.

3. You increase the risk of having Canada Revenue Agency make some random audit onto you.

4. You pay fees both ways on the exchanges and you pay the fees of a wire transfer. Buying 160b = 2.4B in fees on cavirtex.   selling 155B on bitstamp = ~0.65b Total 2.4+0.65b + 40$ = ~345$.  You now only have ~103$ to gain.

Would you risk #1 2 and 3 for ~100$ ?

Cavirtex's owner would be the one benefiting the most (directly and indirectly) from doing this arbitrage but he doesn't, even with 1.5% less in fees to pay.

Conclusion : Lowering the fees from 3% to 1.5% didn't do much to increase liquidity. Unless Cavirtex owner start doing arbitrage himself he should use the maker-taker approach to attract liquidity providers. http://www.marketswiki.com/mwiki/Maker-taker

well said!
legendary
Activity: 1372
Merit: 1000
 Vortex was at about $2.80 when Gox dipped below $2.00.

Higher highs and higher lows.
donator
Activity: 1731
Merit: 1008
The price on Cavirtex is high and low at the same time, (try buying 30 000$ worth)


Arbitrage anyone ?

With the current orderbook there is ~448$ in bitcoin to be made from moving 15 000$ around (160btc).

1. By the time the money get there the opportunity may be lost.

2. You take the risk the wire transfer get stuck or having your bank account shut down.

3. You increase the risk of having Canada Revenue Agency make some random audit onto you.

4. You pay fees both ways on the exchanges and you pay the fees of a wire transfer. Buying 160b = 2.4B in fees on cavirtex.   selling 155B on bitstamp = ~0.65b Total 2.4+0.65b + 40$ = ~345$.  You now only have ~103$ to gain.

Would you risk #1 2 and 3 for ~100$ ?

Cavirtex's owner would be the one benefiting the most (directly and indirectly) from doing this arbitrage but he doesn't, even with 1.5% less in fees to pay.

Conclusion : Lowering the fees from 3% to 1.5% didn't do much to increase liquidity. Unless Cavirtex owner start doing arbitrage himself he should use the maker-taker approach to attract liquidity providers. http://www.marketswiki.com/mwiki/Maker-taker
legendary
Activity: 1806
Merit: 1090
Learning the troll avoidance button :)
One interesting note is that the volume for CAD on MTGox is 841.77 vs 332.90 on Virtex. http://bitcoinwatch.com/

this is really weird, cavirtex offers a superior service, this should correct itself eventually....
 

Honestly I have been raising question marks as well the merchant API is coming out though not sure what systems its compatible with and they have been reliable, either way its not a bad place to get bitcoin.
https://www.canadianbitcoins.com/
https://www.cavirtex.com/home
https://www.mtgox.com/
legendary
Activity: 1904
Merit: 1037
Trusted Bitcoiner
One interesting note is that the volume for CAD on MTGox is 841.77 vs 332.90 on Virtex. http://bitcoinwatch.com/

this is really weird, cavirtex offers a superior service, this should correct itself eventually....
 
legendary
Activity: 2282
Merit: 1050
Monero Core Team
Yes during April of this year there were some times when Virtex traded above MTGox, but if one looks over time all the way back to 2011 Virtex was for most of the time trading below MTGox. Interestingly this spring was also the time when many miners were buying ASICS with BTC, rather than selling BTC on Virtex, which can also explain the higher Virtex prices then. The spreads now on the downside even when compared with BitStamp and even BTC-E let alone MTGox are simply huge.

One interesting note is that the volume for CAD on MTGox is 841.77 vs 332.90 on Virtex. http://bitcoinwatch.com/
legendary
Activity: 1372
Merit: 1000
virtex was trading well over other exchanges for a long time, i think this will be the case again soon enough...

the last top was $288 at virtex and $266 on Gox. Canadians going bitcoin.
legendary
Activity: 1904
Merit: 1037
Trusted Bitcoiner
http://www.paymentssource.com/news/bitpay-reaching-2m-milestone-in-march-cuts-fees-3013622-1.html

Quote
BitPay is also reducing its fees. The company will now process Bitcoin transactions and support settlement into 11 local currencies at a rate of 0.99% for all merchants. Previously, there were separate conversion fees on top of the 0.99% processing fee, so the company has essentially waived the currency conversion charges.

this is gr8!
Yes! But not good for you e-penis  Grin
Cry

lol

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