>> (p.1)
    Author Topic: Wikimedia is irrational in not accepting Bitcoin payment  (Read 6793 times)

    • jinni (OP)
    Sr. Member
    ****
    Offline Offline

    Activity: 255
    Merit: 250


    View Profile
    July 03, 2013, 02:24:52 PM
     #1
    I was on Wikipedia checking something out for the nth time that day (like most days) and I notice their plea for donations. I'm thinking: "Hmmm I'm kinda broke, I want to support them but I need to eat. Then I think...hey what about these Bitcoin I have lying around. I'll just give them some of that!"

    But no. That is impossible!

    https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/FAQ/en#Why_does_the_Wikimedia_Foundation_not_currently_accept_Bitcoin.3F

    Quote
    The Wikimedia Foundation, as a donor-driven organization, has a fiduciary duty to be responsible and prudent with its money. This has been interpreted to mean that we do not accept "artificial" currencies – that is, those not backed by the full faith and credit of an issuing government. We do, however, strive to provide as many methods of donating as possible and continue to monitor Bitcoin with interest and may revisit this position should circumstances change.

    Fine. I'm not going to argue whether or not the safest way to be responsible and prudent for the Wikimedia foundation is using Bitcoin or USD. But accepting payment in Bitcoin that is immediatly converted into USD exposes them to no risk other than that which they are already taking by holding fiat.

    People would be donating Bitcoin, but Wikimedia would be recieving USD. Basically it would be the same thing as accepting PayPal as a middleman converting creditcard IOUs into dollars in Wikimedias bank account - which they are already doing!

    Does anyone know how we can explain succintly to Wikimedia that they don't have to assume the Bitcoin "risk" (or safety) by letting people pay with them?

  • BitcoinAshley
    Sr. Member
    ****
    Offline Offline

    Activity: 448
    Merit: 250



    View Profile
    July 03, 2013, 04:04:12 PM
     #2
    Send them an email explaining this.

    Maybe you will be the straw that breaks the camel's back  Cool

    They will see how much money they are missing out on.

  • phillipsjk
    Legendary
    *
    Offline Offline

    Activity: 1008
    Merit: 1001

    Let the chips fall where they may.


    View Profile WWW
    July 03, 2013, 04:40:27 PM
     #3
    If you mouse-over that banner, they have a "trouble donating?" link. If goes to their Ways to Give/en.

    One of the options is stock. Just recently, the Winklevoss twins have announced a Bitcoin derived stock. I am not sure how well it will track the price of Bitcoin, but if all goes well, it should be possible to indirectly donate Bitcoin the the Wikimedia foundation. It would be silly if they say that they can't accept a specific stock due to Bitcoin exposure.
    James' OpenPGP public key fingerprint: EB14 9E5B F80C 1F2D 3EBE  0A2F B3DE 81FF 7B9D 5160

  • CompNsci
    Sr. Member
    ****
    Offline Offline

    Activity: 332
    Merit: 253


    View Profile
    July 03, 2013, 04:47:16 PM
     #4
    Yes, there position is really irrational, and there was a thread on how it can be argued it really is contrary to their stated goals.

    Probably best if people just keep hammering on them.

  • DublinBrian
    Full Member
    ***
    Offline Offline

    Activity: 197
    Merit: 100


    View Profile
    July 03, 2013, 05:00:03 PM
    Last edit: July 03, 2013, 05:20:49 PM by DublinBrian
     #5
    If a hosting service were to offer Wikimedia a large discount if they pay in bitcoins, that might the thing that convinces them that bitcoin has real value.

    We need to explain to merchants how they can pay their costs in bitcoin rather than cashing out all their bitcoin revenue through Bitpay.

  • greyhawk
    Hero Member
    *****
    Offline Offline

    Activity: 910
    Merit: 1010


    View Profile
    July 03, 2013, 05:04:53 PM
     #6
    Quote from: jinni on July 03, 2013, 02:24:52 PM
    I was on Wikipedia checking something out for the nth time that day (like most days) and I notice their plea for donations. I'm thinking: "Hmmm I'm kinda broke, I want to support them but I need to eat. Then I think...hey what about these Bitcoin I have lying around. I'll just give them some of that!"

    So what you're saying is you can't even buy something to eat for bitcoins.

    Now why do you expect others to willingly take them then?

  • biggie
    Member
    **
    Offline Offline

    Activity: 85
    Merit: 10


    View Profile
    July 03, 2013, 05:39:06 PM
     #7
    I'd think twice if all those "freedom loving initiatives" seem to only want creditcard bank payments for some reason.

  • Robixen
    Newbie
    *
    Offline Offline

    Activity: 13
    Merit: 0


    View Profile
    July 03, 2013, 06:00:02 PM
     #8
    Most likely they will change their mind once bitcoin is widely accepted.

  • Fugger
    Member
    **
    Offline Offline

    Activity: 156
    Merit: 10


    Founder of Bitbond


    View Profile WWW
    July 03, 2013, 09:31:13 PM
     #9
    Quote from: greyhawk on July 03, 2013, 05:04:53 PM
    Quote from: jinni on July 03, 2013, 02:24:52 PM
    I was on Wikipedia checking something out for the nth time that day (like most days) and I notice their plea for donations. I'm thinking: "Hmmm I'm kinda broke, I want to support them but I need to eat. Then I think...hey what about these Bitcoin I have lying around. I'll just give them some of that!"

    So what you're saying is you can't even buy something to eat for bitcoins.

    Now why do you expect others to willingly take them then?

    Someone (major) has got to make a start and maybe the Wikimedia foundation would not be the worst chioce.
    Token Tool by Bitbond
    ▬▬▬ Create, manage and multisend tokens on Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, Polygon and Avalanche ▬▬▬
    ■ Twitter ■ Join Telegram ■

  • Fugger
    Member
    **
    Offline Offline

    Activity: 156
    Merit: 10


    Founder of Bitbond


    View Profile WWW
    July 03, 2013, 09:33:39 PM
     #10
    Quote from: jinni on July 03, 2013, 02:24:52 PM

    People would be donating Bitcoin, but Wikimedia would be recieving USD. Basically it would be the same thing as accepting PayPal as a middleman converting creditcard IOUs into dollars in Wikimedias bank account - which they are already doing!

    Does anyone know how we can explain succintly to Wikimedia that they don't have to assume the Bitcoin "risk" (or safety) by letting people pay with them?
    I think you have a good explanation. Have you sent them an email? Maybe if some of us do, they will start thinking about it.
    Token Tool by Bitbond
    ▬▬▬ Create, manage and multisend tokens on Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, Polygon and Avalanche ▬▬▬
    ■ Twitter ■ Join Telegram ■

  • hazek
    Legendary
    *
    Offline Offline

    Activity: 1078
    Merit: 1003


    View Profile
    July 03, 2013, 11:01:04 PM
     #11
    You can donate with bitcoins, just not directly: http://blog.bitpay.com/2012/11/donate-to-wikipedia-with-bitcoin.html
    My personality type: INTJ - please forgive my weaknesses (Not naturally in tune with others feelings; may be insensitive at times, tend to respond to conflict with logic and reason, tend to believe I'm always right)

    If however you enjoyed my post: 15j781DjuJeVsZgYbDVt2NZsGrWKRWFHpp

  • Meatpile
    Sr. Member
    ****
    Offline Offline

    Activity: 277
    Merit: 250


    View Profile
    July 03, 2013, 11:59:23 PM
     #12
    I think you are a bit irrational. As much right as you have to value bitcoins, everyone else has as much right to deem them worthless.

  • jinni (OP)
    Sr. Member
    ****
    Offline Offline

    Activity: 255
    Merit: 250


    View Profile
    July 04, 2013, 07:55:43 PM
     #13
    Quote from: greyhawk on July 03, 2013, 05:04:53 PM
    Quote from: jinni on July 03, 2013, 02:24:52 PM
    I was on Wikipedia checking something out for the nth time that day (like most days) and I notice their plea for donations. I'm thinking: "Hmmm I'm kinda broke, I want to support them but I need to eat. Then I think...hey what about these Bitcoin I have lying around. I'll just give them some of that!"

    So what you're saying is you can't even buy something to eat for bitcoins.

    Now why do you expect others to willingly take them then?

    So I have enough fiat to eat and pay bills for the time being. But I can't really afford to support Wikipedia at the moment. What I mean is there is no consumption not necessary that I can cut down on to help Wikipedia out for the time being.

    And I'm not saying Wikimedia should keep Bitcoins around, only accept someone like Bitpay or something to accept payment in Bitcoin and exchange it to USD and provide Wikimedia with the USD.

  • threeip
    Full Member
    ***
    Offline Offline

    Activity: 154
    Merit: 100



    View Profile WWW
    July 04, 2013, 07:58:43 PM
     #14
    Surely taking bitcoin or bitcoin exchanged for cash is better than no donations at all?
    ส็็็็็็็็็็็็็็็็็็็็็็็็็ GPG:2AFD99BB ಠ_ಠ mon

  • grue
    Legendary
    *
    Offline Offline

    Activity: 2058
    Merit: 1474



    View Profile
    July 04, 2013, 07:58:55 PM
     #15
    Instead of trying to change the mind of the administrators, how about we solve the problem ourselves? It's obvious the administrators want to stay away from legally gray stuff. (see: linking silkroad's .onion address) We can have a trusted member receive bitcoin donations and send the fiat to wikimedia organization.
    It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.

    Adblock for annoying signature ads | Enhanced Merit UI

  • jinni (OP)
    Sr. Member
    ****
    Offline Offline

    Activity: 255
    Merit: 250


    View Profile
    July 04, 2013, 08:01:05 PM
     #16
    Quote from: Meatpile on July 03, 2013, 11:59:23 PM
    I think you are a bit irrational. As much right as you have to value bitcoins, everyone else has as much right to deem them worthless.

    If you read my post I'm not saying anyone should value Bitcoins. I'm saying I don't want to get into the discussion of whether Bitcoin is safer and more prudent than USD.

    Maybe I should have made this clearer but what I was talking about is for Wikimedia to use a payment processor for Bitcoin like Bitpay - just in the same way they use Paypal as a payment processor for credit cards. In that way, Wikimedia would be recieving USD when I pay in Bitcoin.

  • Akka
    Legendary
    *
    Offline Offline

    Activity: 1246
    Merit: 1001



    View Profile
    July 04, 2013, 08:01:55 PM
     #17
    Quote from: grue on July 04, 2013, 07:58:55 PM
    Instead of trying to change the mind of the administrators, how about we solve the problem ourselves? It's obvious the administrators want to stay away from legally gray stuff. (see: linking silkroad's .onion address) We can have a trusted member receive bitcoin donations and send the fiat to wikimedia organization.

    We already have this obtion: https://bt.irlbtc.com/view/128382.0
    All previous versions of currency will no longer be supported as of this update

  • jinni (OP)
    Sr. Member
    ****
    Offline Offline

    Activity: 255
    Merit: 250


    View Profile
    July 04, 2013, 08:02:38 PM
     #18
    Quote from: DublinBrian on July 03, 2013, 05:00:03 PM
    If a hosting service were to offer Wikimedia a large discount if they pay in bitcoins, that might the thing that convinces them that bitcoin has real value.
    +1

    If Wikimedia could host for Bitcoin, and pay that with Bitcoins they got donated to them it would be fantastic!

  • crumbs
    Full Member
    ***
    Offline Offline

    Activity: 210
    Merit: 100



    View Profile
    July 04, 2013, 08:06:37 PM
     #19
    Quote from: jinni on July 03, 2013, 02:24:52 PM
    I was on Wikipedia checking something out for the nth time that day (like most days) and I notice their plea for donations. I'm thinking: "Hmmm I'm kinda broke, I want to support them but I need to eat. Then I think...hey what about these Bitcoin I have lying around. I'll just give them some of that!"

    But no. That is impossible!

    https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/FAQ/en#Why_does_the_Wikimedia_Foundation_not_currently_accept_Bitcoin.3F

    Quote
    The Wikimedia Foundation, as a donor-driven organization, has a fiduciary duty to be responsible and prudent with its money. This has been interpreted to mean that we do not accept "artificial" currencies – that is, those not backed by the full faith and credit of an issuing government. We do, however, strive to provide as many methods of donating as possible and continue to monitor Bitcoin with interest and may revisit this position should circumstances change.

    Fine. I'm not going to argue whether or not the safest way to be responsible and prudent for the Wikimedia foundation is using Bitcoin or USD. But accepting payment in Bitcoin that is immediatly converted into USD exposes them to no risk other than that which they are already taking by holding fiat.

    People would be donating Bitcoin, but Wikimedia would be recieving USD. Basically it would be the same thing as accepting PayPal as a middleman converting creditcard IOUs into dollars in Wikimedias bank account - which they are already doing!

    Does anyone know how we can explain succintly to Wikimedia that they don't have to assume the Bitcoin "risk" (or safety) by letting people pay with them?

    How about going to the BitPay website yourself, and scrolling down a bit 'till you see this:


    Problem solved? Smiley

    Edit:  See?  The nice folks at BitPay thought of everything!

  • jinni (OP)
    Sr. Member
    ****
    Offline Offline

    Activity: 255
    Merit: 250


    View Profile
    July 04, 2013, 08:10:34 PM
     #20
    To everyone suggesting to pay to someone who will then pay Wikimedia in USD, thanks for the tip!

    However I think it is a shame that Wikimedia cannot set up a service like that on their methods to donate website.

    Edit: I'm now proceeding to make a payment to Wikimedia through bitpay and to writing Wikimedia an email!
    Pages: [1] 2 3 4 5 »  All
      Print  
Page 1
Viewing Page: 1

IRLBTC™ © 2025 IRLBTC.com