> "Find someone local who sells something you already buy, and ask them to accept bitcoin."
> This is darn good advice. I'm definitely going to act on it.


You should ask @DarthCoin about that. He's been doing it for a long time, and he's mentioned it here repeatedly.

Taft

Thank you!

Yes, avoiding dollar-bitcoin volatility will take a while because it requires full closed loop and people thinking in sats, not converting.

phaedrus

Keep us posted when you try to convince people to accept bitcoin in your community. These stories are super valuable because it motivates more people.

"Find someone local who sells something you already buy, and ask them to accept bitcoin."

This is darn good advice. I'm definitely going to act on it. But beyond that, I totally agree with your article and I like how you frame it:

unless you build a community that transacts in bitcoin, you will be left at the mercy of the old system you trying to leave.

the permissionlessness you bought bitcoin for evaporates at the exact moment you try to use it [unless there are a lot of people who accept Bitcoin]. This is a gap that self-custody cannot close alone. Every neighbor who accepts bitcoin is one more exit that no one can shut so you need to build a community of neighbors like that.

I've been thinking about how this fixes many of the problems that seem to face bitcoin at the moment. For example, kyc is mostly an issue at the US dollar/fiat exchange level. I'm sure the gov't will try to enforce surveillance on p2p transactions eventually, but it will take them a while and hopefully always be difficult to enforce.

when the people you buy from and sell to all count in bitcoin, a crash in the bitcoin-dollar price stops rearranging your local prices.

This is also a good point, although of feels further off to me. I might be able to get a bunch more merchants accepting Bitcoin, I'm doubtful they'll price in btc.

You mention that the article may be obvious to people here. I think it is still worth saying.

bitcoin

Until You Spend It, Bitcoin Isn't Money

# "Find someone local who sells something you already buy, and ask them to accept bitcoin."

This is darn good advice. I'm definitely going to act on it. But beyond that, I totally agree with your article and I like how you frame it:

> unless you build a community that transacts in bitcoin, you will be left at the mercy of the old system you trying to leave.

> the permissionlessness you bought bitcoin for evaporates at the exact moment you try to use it [unless there are a lot of people who accept Bitcoin]. This is a gap that self-custody cannot close alone. Every neighbor who accepts bitcoin is one more exit that no one can shut so you need to build a community of neighbors like that.

I've been thinking about how this fixes many of the problems that seem to face bitcoin at the moment. For example, kyc is mostly an issue at the US dollar/fiat exchange level. I'm sure the gov't will try to enforce surveillance on p2p transactions eventually, but it will take them a while and hopefully always be difficult to enforce. 

> when the people you buy from and sell to all count in bitcoin, a crash in the bitcoin-dollar price stops rearranging your local prices.

This is also a good point, although of feels further off to me. I might be able to get a bunch more merchants accepting Bitcoin, I'm doubtful they'll price in btc. 

You mention that the article may be obvious to people here. I think it is still worth saying.

"Find someone local who sells something you already buy, and ask them to accept bitcoin.""Find someone local who sells something you already buy, and ask them to accept bitcoin."