difficult. Over the last decade I've only paid my rent in Bitcoin once and that only lasted until the landlord changed his mind again. The better solution is several (online) bank accounts preferably in several countries.

What do you think about the incoming Strike service which allows for bill payments from btc? I wonder if it will allow a similar service in reverse 🤔 do you think it's a game changer or just the natural progression for them towards a kyc bitcoin bank? If the latter, do you think this is a positive or negative trend. I know in the early days Adam Back said that bitcoin banks will be somewhat inevitable, if my memory serves me right. I'm undecided about this, in principle I am totally against KYC and I wish for the ideal world. But the realist in me thinks there is some inevitability to this KYC'd custodial model when you look out at the world... 🤷🏻‍♂️

I know Fold has direct deposit. It is technically still a bank account. People can earn sats back 1.5-5% on purchases and bill pay.

I have been buying bitrefill e-gift cards, and they don't ask for address phone #, etc. I use them to pay bills, not just for purchases online.

Yes, I have heard of this but I dont think it solves the problems i'm interested in 🤔

Interesting, how do you pay bills with gift cards?

Visa or Mastercard gift cards act like regular debit cards.

I was waiting for years for the perfect loop where I could get customers to pay me in bitcoin and then I use the btc to fund operations and once profited, also use it to pay bills etc but those days are not here yet for everyone so I utilize lightning pain and pay for things w/Bitrefill.

Ooooohhhh right! That's cool, I hadn't realised you could buy such a generic gift card! And it's kyc-free?

Recently met a guy who lives out of his hardware wallet. Involves USDC and a shitcoin but he sends the USDC to moneygram through some app and picks up the local currency cash anywhere in the world that he is. He's a BTC advocate but makes this exception in order to rid himself of banks. Moneygram requires id so there's also that downside. Talking about Africa/Asia so maybe different to USA/Europe.

Thank you for the anecdote, very interesting! I guess everything we do scomes with some trade off or compromise

Yea, I was a bit jealous and am tempted to try it. Cold stored BTC to fiddling around with USDC on a shitcoin chain vs dealing with banks, fees and shitty exchange rates. 🤔 He reckoned he could get from USDC into moneygram in a minute and then collect cash immediately. I heard Aqua wallet might be pushing for some kind of ramp/payment setup so it'll come at some point.

It's very cool what Aqua are doing! The ultimate app will be when you can be anywhere on earth and withdraw in local currency from a cash machine but it's drawing from your btc wallet 😎

Thankyou for this insight. An interesting take from the UK perspective!

Exactly.....I think it was 2014, maybe earlier(?), when ANXBTC in HK threatened a debit card that could do that. Never materialised I don't think. One positive about the lack of ease and ability to spend the corn is that it means hodling is a bit easier!

You can supply whatever info you want. They don't verify. Imo, that's as good.