4 ms·

I live a block away from this machine and won't be using it because of nonsense biometric data harvesting. Why do I need to scan my ID, picture and fingerprints

I live a block away from this machine and won't be using it because of nonsense biometric data harvesting. Why do I need to scan my ID, picture and fingerprints to trade a small amount of bitcoins? I will continue to use the Russian guy who hangs out at a Robson St cafe and doesn't want my biometric data.

hristov 13y ago
Wait, are you saying that there are now street bitcoin traders? This reminds of communist times when the government limited foreign currency trading. There was a specific coffee house where you could go and illicitly trade foreign currency.
- robflynn 13y ago
  Indeed there are! Here's a short Wired article I saw about the concept a few months back: http://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2013/07/buttonwood/ http://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2013/07/buttonwood/ One of my clients actually said to me, at the closing of a project: "I don't know if you take bit coins, but I'm gonna go see my bitcoin guy in a few. I don't like to buy online. Anyway, if you want to be paid in bit coins, let me know! Otherwise I'll drop the check in the mail tomorrow." (that's paraphrased a bit, as I cannot remember the exact wording, but the meat of the quote is the same.)
- ksrm 13y ago
  Of course. see e.g. https://localbitcoins.com https://localbitcoins.com
- deleted 13y ago
  [deleted]
- james4k 13y ago
  I can't help but think on how that reflects on current government.
randywaterhouse 13y ago
I'll even just go to LocalBitcoins if I want the anonymity (at a premium, but that's a cost of doing business without a fully FINRA-compliant broker, of course LBC is a marketplace so it has no business being compliant). And if I don't want the anonymity premium these guys make it sound like it's difficult to do instant trades... Meanwhile I've got Coinbase on Instant Trade up to 10 BTC per day, and other exchanges have similar options (if you choose to verify with ID/Bank Info/etc).
sfjailbird 13y ago
> Why do I need to scan my ID, picture and fingerprints You don't, this one just scans your palm, which seems a lot easier than the runaround necessary to create an online account anywhere. Since there are no 'palm databases' linking your palm to your identity, seems pretty anonymous too. It is only to ostensibly prevent any one user from going over the daily transaction limit. (As an aside I personally don't see anonymity as a big issue most of the time anyway).

hristov 13y ago

Wait, are you saying that there are now street bitcoin traders? This reminds of communist times when the government limited foreign currency trading. There was a specific coffee house where you could go and illicitly trade foreign currency.

robflynn 13y ago
Indeed there are! Here's a short Wired article I saw about the concept a few months back: http://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2013/07/buttonwood/ http://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2013/07/buttonwood/ One of my clients actually said to me, at the closing of a project: "I don't know if you take bit coins, but I'm gonna go see my bitcoin guy in a few. I don't like to buy online. Anyway, if you want to be paid in bit coins, let me know! Otherwise I'll drop the check in the mail tomorrow." (that's paraphrased a bit, as I cannot remember the exact wording, but the meat of the quote is the same.)
ksrm 13y ago
Of course. see e.g. https://localbitcoins.com https://localbitcoins.com
deleted 13y ago
[deleted]
james4k 13y ago
I can't help but think on how that reflects on current government.

randywaterhouse 13y ago

I'll even just go to LocalBitcoins if I want the anonymity (at a premium, but that's a cost of doing business without a fully FINRA-compliant broker, of course LBC is a marketplace so it has no business being compliant). And if I don't want the anonymity premium these guys make it sound like it's difficult to do instant trades... Meanwhile I've got Coinbase on Instant Trade up to 10 BTC per day, and other exchanges have similar options (if you choose to verify with ID/Bank Info/etc).

sfjailbird 13y ago

> Why do I need to scan my ID, picture and fingerprints You don't, this one just scans your palm, which seems a lot easier than the runaround necessary to create an online account anywhere. Since there are no 'palm databases' linking your palm to your identity, seems pretty anonymous too. It is only to ostensibly prevent any one user from going over the daily transaction limit. (As an aside I personally don't see anonymity as a big issue most of the time anyway).