Pattaya Beer Garden now accepts Bitcoin

[PattayaPete 527]

 

You can now use Bitcoin to pay for your food and drink at the Pattaya Beer Garden. As far as I know we are the first business in Pattaya to accept Bitcoin for payment.

 

Background Information

 

Bitcoin got off to a rocky start in Thailand when the financial authorities declared it was illegal to use here. There was no law covering Bitcoin but an opinion was given and most people (including me) decided to wait and see. We waited and what we have seen is that the same financial authority came out this week and say it is not really illegal although if you were to buy Bitcoin in Thai Baht and convert it to some other currency then that would probably be illegal. On the strength of that opinion the Thailand Bitcoin exchange has resumed trading (bitcoin.co.th).

 

I've said before that when it became legal we would accept it and so now we have.

 

I am not going to discuss the benefits and pitfalls of Bitcoin here but would be happy to enter into discussion in the off topic section. I know most people don't know and don't care what a Bitcoin is or what use it may be. However for those of us who know and love Bitcoin it is important to provide opportunities to those who wish to use this amazing digital currency in the real world to do so.

 

We put the We Accept Bitcoins signs up in the Beer Garden this afternoon and within an hour 3 different people approached me and said something along the lines of "I've heard of this Bitcoin thing but what is it and what use is it to me". Lengthy discussions followed :-)

 

If you want to know more the internet is full of information. When you first start reading about it you are likely to go into information overload as the full concept and methodology used to create Bitcoin is extremely techy and not easy to understand. Just as the internet in 1992 was beyond most people and seemed like a nerds wet dream but not much use in the real world. Bitcoin has recently been described as the "internet of money" which I think is an excellent description.

 

If you would like to know more, I'd recommend coinbase.com as a user friendly and not too techy introduction for the newbie.

 

THE PROCESS

 

In the Beer Garden we are using the Coinbase Merchant software. If you want to pay in Bitcoin tell you server when you are ready to pay. She will bring a tablet to your table which shows the amount to pay in Thai Baht and in Bitcoin and a QR code. Scan the QR code with your Bitcoin Wallet (which is an app installed on your cell phone) and send the payment. The server takes the tablet to the cashier who will enter the payment into our system and print your receipt, which the server will bring back to your table. Done!

 

This is a bit new to our staff so please be patient with them as they learn the system. It can take a minute or two for the payment to clear so allow some time when paying this way. BTW the exchange rate from Bitcoin to Thai Baht is calculated by coinbase at the time of the transaction. You can read up on how they do this on coinbase.com if you are interested.

 

 

Edited February 22, 2014 by PattayaPete

[papillon 695]

Haha. I just knew you would start using it.

 

I hope someone does open a separate thread so you can tell us how it all goes for you.

[ttk 236]

 

I am new to BitCoins but looking at a chart I searched for, it looks like they are HEAVILY speculated. Looks like computer trading by experts is controlling the value. It fluctuated between 25,000 and 5,000 in one month? Am I missing something???

[papillon 695]

I opened a thread for further discussion but I don't see it in the list of forum topics.

[jacko 8,778]

I opened a thread for further discussion but I don't see it in the list of forum topics.

It is in 'Off Topic and General Chat'