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Microsoft Quietly Starts Accepting Bitcoin As Payment Method

Posted by timothy on from the some-drop-out's-startup dept.

An anonymous reader writes A new page in the help guide in the payment information of Microsoft's website reveals that the Redmond giant is now accepting Bitcoin as a payment method for products and services on Windows, Windows Phone and Xbox. Currently the payments must go through to credit a Microsoft Wallet account, and the service is initially only available to U.S. users. But the wording of the new page combines with an expansive year for Microsoft and a number of positive statements about Bitcoin from Bill Gates to indicate that this first step is more than just an experiment. Microsoft is now the largest commercial entity accepting the Bitcoin currency, which it processes via the BitPay system, thus protecting the company from fluctuations in the value of Bitcoin. Also at CNN Money.

14 of 107 comments (clear)

  1. No more bitcoins for regular Joes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I'm seriously starting to think that regular currency will be no more in the future. I should have started mining early though, you pretty much can't get bitcoins anymore without paying for them.

  2. As a Market Lover by artlu · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I find the emergence of bitcoin and other virtual currencies alarming. We have "free markets," that are governed by some type of ruling bodies be it the IMF or the Fed (not a government entity, for those that didn't know). However, the acceptance of an unregulated currency is strife with the ability for fraud and manipulation. However, as a stock trader (see my blog The Market is not Random), the emergence of these currencies that trade on pure technical patterns is something that must be embraced if it becomes publicly accepted.

    I just hope it does not become publicly accepted. Can someone help convince me that bitcoin is the way to go?

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    artlu.net
    1. Re:As a Market Lover by Forgefather · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I'm like you in that I don't like the idea of a self regulated currency, but I don't find Bitcoin to be a problem because I have always looked at it as an investment similar to a stock or a bond. When you buy a Bitcoin you are buying the chance that they will become more valuable in the future. Funny enough the people who have made the most money from Bitcoin are the exchange traders and early adopters.

      I think as long as you look at Bitcoin as a commodity and transactions like a barter or trade system then there isn't much of a problem when both parties understand that they are trading in goods not currency. As far as an actual currency it is far too volatile. You can't have a currency that changes value significantly in the time it takes to get to the grocery store.

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      "There are lies, there are damn lies, and there are statistics"
    2. Re:As a Market Lover by genghisjahn · · Score: 4, Funny

      We should stay with current systems that keep us safe from all fraud and irregularities.

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      Sorry about the mess.
    3. Re:As a Market Lover by itzly · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Your sarcasm meter needs adjusting.

    4. Re:As a Market Lover by genghisjahn · · Score: 4, Informative

      I don't know that BTC will ultimately prove to be the way to go, but I do think something like that will catch on in a big way. If you haven't seen it, Andreas M. Antonopoulos's video about BitCoin is pretty informative. https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

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      Sorry about the mess.
    5. Re:As a Market Lover by artlu · · Score: 2

      yet, the money in the bank is subject to federal depository insurance, and the credit cards have measures in place for fraud.

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      artlu.net
    6. Re:As a Market Lover by Jeremi · · Score: 2

      You can't have a currency that changes value significantly in the time it takes to get to the grocery store.

      Agreed, but the hope/expectation is that as the user base grows, the valuation will become less volatile, making it more useful as a currency.

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      I don't care if it's 90,000 hectares. That lake was not my doing.
  3. with bitpay, everyone can accept bitcoins by schlachter · · Score: 2

    With 3rd party services like BitPay, everyone can update their services/site to accept BitCoin with no additional risk, right? No real risk, yet, big political statement.

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    My God can beat up your God. Just kidding...don't take offense. I know there's no God.
  4. Re:No. They are NOT accepting bitcoin for payment. by oodaloop · · Score: 2, Insightful

    No, they are not accepting greenbacks, nor do most vendors. They accept 1s and 0s, which we all pretend are the same as actual physical greenbacks.

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    Tic-Tac-Toe, Global Thermonuclear War, and relationships all have the same winning move.
  5. Re:The Worry Exists by ArcadeMan · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I like crypto currencies like Dogecoin because it allows websites and games to trade in fractions of cents, which would be impossible with standard payment methods that charge cents in trading fees.

    As an example, here's a game that will allow plays to trade Dogecoin for in-game services and goods:
    https://www.universeprojects.c...

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    Get free satoshi (Bitcoin) and Dogecoins
  6. Re:Until 60 percent of the market... by itzly · · Score: 2

    When that happens, bitcoins become worthless, and that 40% becomes nothing. So, while in theory that's possible, who would be stupid enough to actually do it, if instead they could just be mining 25 btc every 15 minutes ?

  7. Re:No. They are NOT accepting bitcoin for payment. by iggymanz · · Score: 4, Insightful

    you are being silly, most dollars in existence are data in federal reserve bank computers, physical currency a small fraction

  8. Re:No. They are NOT accepting bitcoin for payment. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    I accept Euros as payment for my services, and I convert them directly to UKP because I don't have a Euro account. This occurs at my bank in between the client paying and me receiving the money. That doesn't mean I don't "accept Euros as payment", and only an idiot would suggest it does, since I manifestly do accept Euros as payment. L2Think.