From 39a01809fc02cc7002b313b6b1658aae1e2d0a42 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Adam Soltys Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2012 23:22:53 -0800 Subject: Static pages --- views/about.html | 151 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 151 insertions(+) create mode 100644 views/about.html (limited to 'views/about.html') diff --git a/views/about.html b/views/about.html new file mode 100644 index 00000000..592bd917 --- /dev/null +++ b/views/about.html @@ -0,0 +1,151 @@ + + + + + + Vancouver Bitcoin + + {{#css}}index{{/css}} + + + + +
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What are bitcoins?

+ Bitcoins are units of digital currency that can be + transferred over the Internet. They get stored at a + unique address which is like an online wallet or + bank account that you can access with a + password. Registering a new address is free and + is as easy as signing up for an email account. + Transactions between bitcoin addresses are + recorded in a public record that's published on + the Internet and keeps track of what amounts are + stored at every address. Fifty new bitcoins are + generated by a mathematical algorithm every ten + minutes and are distributed to people who + contribute computing power to the network. The + software to participate in the network is free so + anyone can run it. Over time, fewer and fewer + bitcoins will be created until there are a total of + 21 million of them by the year 2040. Each bitcoin + is divisible up to 8 decimal places, making + it possible to transact tiny amounts. +
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Why use them?

+ They're free, fast, secure, and global. Merchants + don't get charged for accepting them and you don't + get charged for transferring them, even + internationally. There are no fees, prerequisites, or + limits. You can register addresses anonymously and + create as many accounts as you like. They can + never be frozen because no central authority + controls them. Whether you're sending a fraction of + a cent or a million dollars, the network doesn't + discriminate. You can use bitcoins to securely store + and backup your savings and gain access to them + from anywhere that has Internet. Bitcoins tend to + appreciate in value over time because of their + limited supply so they make a good investment. + Unlike dollars and other national currencies, no + government or issuing authority can print more of + them. +
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What can I buy with them?

+ The number of companies accepting bitcoins is + growing quickly but their immediate utility still isn't + so much as a VISA/Mastercard/Debit competitor for + retail commerce but as an alternative to Western + Union, PayPal and the Big Banks as a means of + transferring value. They enable you to send free, + immediate payments to your friends and family + from a phone or laptop so you can pay a co-worker + back for coffee, transfer wages to family overseas, + or donate to organizations like WikiLeaks who have + been cut off by the major payment companies. + We're working to get more stores accepting them in + Vancouver though because we believe it'll be in + their best interest to avoid the transaction fees + charged by the credit card companies. Transaction + fees end up getting built into the prices we pay for + goods and services across the board so we're all + subsidizing the big banks and credit card + companies indirectly whether we use their services + or not. +
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How is their price set?

+ Most merchants accepting bitcoin will use an + exchange rate from one of the online markets + like cavirtex.com to determine their equivalent + dollar value. The exchange rate is simply the last + price that some seller was able to charge some + buyer for bitcoins in the free market and is + governed by supply and demand. + Bitcoins aren't backed by any underlying + commodity or insured by any authority. They + have an intrinsic value however as a superior + form of currency due to their mathematically + guaranteed scarcity, security, ease of use, + distributed nature, lack of fees, divisibility, and + global recognition. + At vanbtc.ca we offer to pay cash to local + merchants in exchange for bitcoins they receive + as payment. We also offer to sell bitcoins for cash + in person at various locations. We peg our rates + to cavirtex.com and don't take any commission. +
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Where can I get some?

+ Sign up for a free account at blockchain.info/wallet and find someone who will send you some in + exchange for goods, services, or cash. Local merchants and enthusiasts in Vancouver can be found at + vanbtc.ca. There are also several bitcoin exchange markets operating online. The largest one in Canada + is cavirtex.com and is run out of Calgary. They link up buyers and sellers and facilitate trades by + allowing you to deposit and withdraw Canadian dollars directly from your bank account. A list of other + online exchanges and their rates can be found at bitcoincharts.comvanbtc.ca +
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Where can I learn more?

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+ Check out vanbtc.ca and get a wallet at blockchain.info. Come to our monthly meetup group + (meetup.com/bitcoinvan) or send me an email at asoltys@gmail.com. I'm a local software + developer and I've made a bitcoin payment app that's running in stores around town. I'd be happy to + send you some bitcoins and teach you more about them. +

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