Bitcoin News

In a post on the BitInstant blog, Erik Voorhees (@ErikVoorhees) takes a deeper look at Wikipedia’s stance regarding accepting Bitcoin donations. Excerpts:

“The response [from Wikipedia] was as follows: ‘The Foundation does not currently accept Bitcoin or other currencies not backed by the full faith and credit of an issuing government.’”
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“By using a Bitcoin merchant processor […] Wikipedia never even holds or handles a single bitcoin. Wikipedia would receive USD, just as they do when taking credit card donations.”
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“Consider the fact that Wikipedia accepts Saudi riyals, as well as currencies from other ‘Enemies of the Internet,’ […].  In other words, Wikipedia doesn’t mind accepting donations backed by a regime that has institutionalized the beheading of women for adultery or ‘witchcraft,’ but it won’t accept Bitcoin, because it’s not backed by such an organization.”
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“Surely, WordPress also has ‘a fiduciary duty to be responsible and prudent with its money.’ What anomaly of WordPress enables it to prudently accept Bitcoin payments while Wikipedia stands idly by?”
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“Why do you [Wikipedia] approve of the freedom of expression when it comes to speech, but not when it comes to money? Why do you value open-source knowledge, yet reject open-source exchange?”
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“Why can I donate information that has not been stamped with government approval, but I cannot donate money in similar fashion?”
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“[Wikipedia, you] neither harm nor exclude anyone by this choice, yet you empower everyone.”

 - http://bit.ly/Seyc6D
 - http://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=127141.0 (Further discussion of the topic of this post) 

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