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We've mostly had this for years, in the form of PayPal. Your ID even is your email. The issues with PayPal have mostly been interfacing with fiat currency, whi

We've mostly had this for years, in the form of PayPal. Your ID even is your email. The issues with PayPal have mostly been interfacing with fiat currency, which any system will have to deal with, and transaction fees, which any system will have. The real problem IMO is the lack of a de-facto service that everyone all around the world has, and we're kind of in this position: https://xkcd.com/927/ https://xkcd.com/927/

jordigh 9y ago
Paypal doesn't work well across international boundaries. It's not convenient for IRC tipping. It's not internet money. And it's not my money, it's their money which they usually will give to me at their pleasure. Having family and friends in different countries who use different currencies, let me tell you, Paypal is not the solution I want.
- sliverstorm 9y ago
  I avoid using PayPal internationally because they make it hard for me to pay in foreign currency denominations (they "helpfully" insist on being my exchange) but I have used it, it was no "worse" really than paying domestically. What makes them bad for you for international? I argue it's not convenient for IRC tipping simply because 1) software is not well-integrated for minimal clicks 2) the other person might not have PayPal. Don't get me wrong, I don't love PayPal, but I don't think Bitcoin brings anything really fundamentally important & new to the table, except maybe the decentralized part. Though, I suppose you could argue the decentralized nature of email was key for its universal adoption today.
  - xorcist 9y ago
    That "helpful" exchange also charges a 3% fee on all currency exchange, on top of their regular fees. You can insist that they charge you in the same currency as you wish to pay with and your bank will do the exchange at an order of magnitude lower fee. Not everyone knows this. The user interface also doesn't make it very clear (which perhaps surprised no one).
  - josefchung 9y ago
    It would be the "not my money" part that is fundamentally different with Paypal. Paypal can choose to withhold this money at any time for any reason, and they have done so in the past. A lot of the money isn't even FDIC insured in the event of bankruptcy etc.
  - iopq 9y ago
    It straight up didn't work with my Vietnamese friend
- siquick 9y ago
  Have a look at Transferwise. I transfer money to my mum in the UK once a month from my Australia debit card and its in her account within minutes, and the fees are far lower than a bank transfer.
chrisco255 9y ago
PayPal is a US-based centralized corporation. They're an application with a single point of failure.
dorgo 9y ago
PayPal? Is it this strange service based in USA (of all countries) which requires me to send them a utility bill? Seriously?
- kalleboo 9y ago
  Are there any Bitcoin exchanges that don't require photo ID?
  - def_true_false 9y ago
    Yes. Some only require that if you wish to withdraw or deposit fiat over some daily limit.

jordigh 9y ago

Paypal doesn't work well across international boundaries. It's not convenient for IRC tipping. It's not internet money. And it's not my money, it's their money which they usually will give to me at their pleasure. Having family and friends in different countries who use different currencies, let me tell you, Paypal is not the solution I want.

sliverstorm 9y ago
I avoid using PayPal internationally because they make it hard for me to pay in foreign currency denominations (they "helpfully" insist on being my exchange) but I have used it, it was no "worse" really than paying domestically. What makes them bad for you for international? I argue it's not convenient for IRC tipping simply because 1) software is not well-integrated for minimal clicks 2) the other person might not have PayPal. Don't get me wrong, I don't love PayPal, but I don't think Bitcoin brings anything really fundamentally important & new to the table, except maybe the decentralized part. Though, I suppose you could argue the decentralized nature of email was key for its universal adoption today.
- xorcist 9y ago
  That "helpful" exchange also charges a 3% fee on all currency exchange, on top of their regular fees. You can insist that they charge you in the same currency as you wish to pay with and your bank will do the exchange at an order of magnitude lower fee. Not everyone knows this. The user interface also doesn't make it very clear (which perhaps surprised no one).
- josefchung 9y ago
  It would be the "not my money" part that is fundamentally different with Paypal. Paypal can choose to withhold this money at any time for any reason, and they have done so in the past. A lot of the money isn't even FDIC insured in the event of bankruptcy etc.
- iopq 9y ago
  It straight up didn't work with my Vietnamese friend
siquick 9y ago
Have a look at Transferwise. I transfer money to my mum in the UK once a month from my Australia debit card and its in her account within minutes, and the fees are far lower than a bank transfer.

chrisco255 9y ago

PayPal is a US-based centralized corporation. They're an application with a single point of failure.

dorgo 9y ago

PayPal? Is it this strange service based in USA (of all countries) which requires me to send them a utility bill? Seriously?

kalleboo 9y ago
Are there any Bitcoin exchanges that don't require photo ID?
- def_true_false 9y ago
  Yes. Some only require that if you wish to withdraw or deposit fiat over some daily limit.