The 2-Week Bitcoin Challenge: The Back Story
The thing about Bitcoin adoption is that you need somewhere to start spending your bitcoins, physically. Yes, there are plenty of online stores that accept crypto-payments, but there is just something inherently exciting about purchasing something with bitcoins at a physical location.
Regardless of which side you are on in terms of the ideological split between Bitcoin as a daily transnational currency or a long-term store of value, it never ceases to excite crypto-heads the moment they lift up their smartphones to scan the QR code, and seeing the transaction being confirmed on the merchant’s tablet/smartphone screen. There is always just something magical about it, even when I consider myself to have a fair technical understanding of how a Bitcoin transaction works.
For a number of years now, my close friends know me for my obsession with Bitcoin and the blockchain. When I first arrived in Brisbane a little over a year ago as an international student, one of the first things I did was to attend a Bitcoin documentary screening at The University of Queensland.
I was genuinely excited to see strong involvement with the local community here. Then, the next thing I did was hop onto Coinmap, one of the only websites back then that listed bitcoin-accepting merchants around you. However, what I realized was other than a few outdated listings, I could not find a single physical location that accepted crypto-payments. (I did end up buying a couple of USB sticks with bitcoins from an online store, which I thought would be useful for University.)
But just as how fast things evolve within the Blockchain ecosystem, the same could be said about the increasingly ‘crypto-friendly’ Brisbane City. It did not take long for the Brisbane startup — Living Room of Satoshi, to catch my attention. It allowed friction-less crypto-payments for rent, utility bills, and other credit card payments in general. (Still saving up that 160 million points for the Lambo though.)
USB stick — check. Rent — check. Utility bills — check. What only seems to be missing now are food and other daily necessities. This is where Travelbybit comes in. According to their website, there are currently over 150 merchants across Brisbane that accept crypto-payments. From bike rental, to dining, to real estate businesses, the numbers just seems to be rising by the day.
Hence, I would like to challenge myself to something that I did not think was possible just a year ago — to spend bitcoins at a different location across Brisbane each day, for two weeks. I will try my best to post regular updates on my Twitter account, as well as share my experiences along the way in writing. So, do keep an eye out for my future Medium articles. Who knows, you may be introduced to shops and restaurants which you have yet to explore around Brisbane City, and maybe, pick up the challenge for yourself. Till next time.
