Bitcoins? On Gaia?

[The Iron Magus]

Meh, I'm not so much worried about security issues. I just think it's pointless. The only people that use bitcoin are libertarian uber-nerds and criminals. lol

[Ami Satomora]

I've heard of bitcoins but I didn't know about the horror stories. I just use my card anyway to buy GC

I do appreciate the survey asking about alternative methods. When sometimes bought on mobile I used Google Play and I had no issues with it. Not enough to wish for it, but I've got no bad things to say about it.

[Jisen Meizuki]

Haven't heard of bitcoin. Haven't use of bitcoin. Not even planning to use bitcoin.

I will admit that I haven't heard about the bad side of the story (then again, I haven't heard ANY of this bitcoin.) But seeing as it is, I have no use for it. No need to make multiple route to get Gaia Cash unless your only option is closed like Ultimate GameCard. >.<

[may oak]

seems like a waste of time bothering with bitcoins

[Gentlemanly Swindler]

Yen Quest

It's practically another form of currency that we don't need. I mean, we got like what, your typical gold, gaia cash, tokens/tickets (from game exchange), bachelor credits, wing stickers, alchemy ingredients, gofushion charms... confused

Bitcoins are not a Gaian currency, they are a form of money that would be used to purchase GC. That would be like saying 'I don't think Gaia should accept Euros as payment because we already have gold, GC, and game items!'

[sup-qt]

Chibi Halo

Here's the thing. If you go to buy some Cash for use on Gaia either on the site or through the app (if those app transactions are still working for them) you know that $10 for Cash will always be $10 for Cash and that, if there's no discounts and other sales for Cash going on, you will be down $10 and Gaia will be richer by $10 less whatever transaction fees the payment service and bank/credit card compay take out. You don't have to worry that the price for Cash will change and Gaia doesn't have to take a developer off any projects just to sit around and monitor the insane daily fluctuations in the daily, and sometimes hourly, exchange rates from US Dollars to Bitcoins. Because if Gaia were to go with Bitcoins who's to say that by the time you're ready to buy your $10 in Cash the Bitcoin price for it will actually be $10? Besides the safety issues being mentioned in this thread not knowing the current going exchange rate between Bitcoins and US Dollars can really turn your simple $10 Cash purchase into more like $11 or more with the tacked on fees and the daily fluctuations in the exchange rates. It's a bad proposition all around.

That said, I am glad they asked us about other payment options that they don't already use that we would like to see them use. I told them for the general piece of mind aspect that if they ever really revamp the app, and it could be used on site if I've done my reading right, Apple Pay could be a good option. I know the app already uses iTunes accounts to pay for things but the upside to Apple Pay that I like is the fact that every transaction creates a unique card number that expires the moment that transaction is over with. That way if there was a breach of payment information a person's credit card and bank account is safe because the number linked to the credit or debit card is dead and can never be used again.

.: [ ...Sorry but you do realise that is exactly what happens with EVERY transaction of gaia cash outside of America right?
Like I usually have to pay $5 to get $2.50GC cause of the difference in currency.
its not a bad thing? its just the way money works? ] :.

[Hestia Carrow]

I consider bitcoin currency to be sketchy. There is no way that I will ever use it and I hope that Gaia also decides to never use it. I'll stick to my card when buying GC, thanks.

[Masiakasaurus]

sup-qt

.: [ ...Sorry but you do realise that is exactly what happens with EVERY transaction of gaia cash outside of America right?
Like I usually have to pay $5 to get $2.50GC cause of the difference in currency.
its not a bad thing? its just the way money works? ] :.

The Bitcoin price dropped over a hundred dollars yesterday. Then bounced back.

I mean yes currency exchange is volatile by nature but Bitcoin prices can change dramatically by the minute.

[Yen Quest]

Gentlemanly Swindler

Bitcoins are not a Gaian currency, they are a form of money that would be used to purchase GC. That would be like saying 'I don't think Gaia should accept Euros as payment because we already have gold, GC, and game items!'

Didn't mean it in that way. Bitcoins is pretty much, another form of virtual currency, that is similar to Gaia gold, is it not? I mean, if you have to spend GC for gold (gold gens), and said gold can be used in one of those kickopot things for GC...

[abkvs]

People still use bitcoins? Bitcoins still exist????

[Gentlemanly Swindler]

Yen Quest

Gentlemanly Swindler

Bitcoins are not a Gaian currency, they are a form of money that would be used to purchase GC. That would be like saying 'I don't think Gaia should accept Euros as payment because we already have gold, GC, and game items!'

Didn't mean it in that way. Bitcoins is pretty much, another form of virtual currency, that is similar to Gaia gold, is it not? I mean, if you have to spend GC for gold (gold gens), and said gold can be used in one of those kickopot things for GC...

Bit coins are a type of currency that many places accept for goods and services both digital and physical and it can be exchanged for real money. GC and Gold are both exclusive to Gaia Online and are completely worthless outside of our fictional economy. I don't think they are remotely comparable.

[Yen Quest]

Gentlemanly Swindler

Bit coins are a type of currency that many places accept for goods and services both digital and physical and it can be exchanged for real money. GC and Gold are both exclusive to Gaia Online and are completely worthless outside of our fictional economy. I don't think they are remotely comparable.

Sorry, I still don't see what's so unique about it other than it being a universal type of currency between multiple websites. I mean, the general rule of dumb, we're not allowed to trade whatever is on this site for whatever thing on another website, after all (I mean, what is the point of having bitcoin here? ). Bitcoin might allow that to work, since it's a currency that can be used on multiple websites, but I rather we just stick it to the plain ol' real life dollars (or whatever currency other folks use in their country).

[Gentlemanly Swindler]

Yen Quest

Gentlemanly Swindler

Bit coins are a type of currency that many places accept for goods and services both digital and physical and it can be exchanged for real money. GC and Gold are both exclusive to Gaia Online and are completely worthless outside of our fictional economy. I don't think they are remotely comparable.

Sorry, I still don't see what's so unique about it other than it being a universal type of currency between multiple websites. I mean, the general rule of dumb, we're not allowed to trade whatever is on this site for whatever thing on another website, after all. Bitcoin might allow that to work, since it's a currency that can be used on multiple websites, but I rather we just stick it to the plain ol' real life dollars.

You can't turn gold/GC back into money though. Or back into BitCoins. They also aren't deciding PayPal or BitCoin, they are asking if anyone would use a new payment method. This wouldn't affect your ability to purchase GC how ever you already go about doing so, this would simply allow people another option in how they want to pay for GC purchases, potentially one for people who can't use PayPal/credit cards. People who don't have bank accounts were able to purchase Ultimate Game Cards at stores and it was a fairly popular option, if memory serves. The company that offered them eventually closed so it's no longer available but it was very useful for a lot of folks while it lasted. That's all this is, another option for people.

[Chibi Halo]

sup-qt

Chibi Halo

Here's the thing. If you go to buy some Cash for use on Gaia either on the site or through the app (if those app transactions are still working for them) you know that $10 for Cash will always be $10 for Cash and that, if there's no discounts and other sales for Cash going on, you will be down $10 and Gaia will be richer by $10 less whatever transaction fees the payment service and bank/credit card compay take out. You don't have to worry that the price for Cash will change and Gaia doesn't have to take a developer off any projects just to sit around and monitor the insane daily fluctuations in the daily, and sometimes hourly, exchange rates from US Dollars to Bitcoins. Because if Gaia were to go with Bitcoins who's to say that by the time you're ready to buy your $10 in Cash the Bitcoin price for it will actually be $10? Besides the safety issues being mentioned in this thread not knowing the current going exchange rate between Bitcoins and US Dollars can really turn your simple $10 Cash purchase into more like $11 or more with the tacked on fees and the daily fluctuations in the exchange rates. It's a bad proposition all around.

That said, I am glad they asked us about other payment options that they don't already use that we would like to see them use. I told them for the general piece of mind aspect that if they ever really revamp the app, and it could be used on site if I've done my reading right, Apple Pay could be a good option. I know the app already uses iTunes accounts to pay for things but the upside to Apple Pay that I like is the fact that every transaction creates a unique card number that expires the moment that transaction is over with. That way if there was a breach of payment information a person's credit card and bank account is safe because the number linked to the credit or debit card is dead and can never be used again.

.: [ ...Sorry but you do realise that is exactly what happens with EVERY transaction of gaia cash outside of America right?
Like I usually have to pay $5 to get $2.50GC cause of the difference in currency.
its not a bad thing? its just the way money works? ] :.

I get that but with Bitcoin the exchange rate changes around the clock and what it was in the morning isn't what it will be later in the day. Heck the rate can change from the moment you log in to your account on the wallet site to the moment you click the button to extract your coins. It changes by the minute. Plus, you need to make two transactions in order to make the one to Gaia with the Bitcoins. First you have to pay the place that holds your coins, which is where the markups come in, and then you have to pay Gaia with the coins. The only upside to this isn't one that benefits us the users because we're the ones paying all the transaction fees not Gaia. They just make out with all the money from this.