What's the United States' First Bitcoin ATM Doing in a Downtown Austin Bar?

[TexasTowelie]

Handlebar on East 5th is the home of Austin's, and the United States', first Bitcoin ATM.
Credit Kelly Krupa/KUT

The first Bitcoin ATM machine in the U.S. launched today, and it’s right here in Austin.

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The Austin ATM is owned by Las Vegas-based Robocoin. CEO and founder Jordan Kelley said the decision to bring their first Bitcoin ATM to Austin was influenced by several factors.

“I think Austin is a phenomenal city with an incredible culture, a really good taste for technology,” Kelley says. “It’s centralized in the United States … we wanted to put this right in the heart of the U.S., and it’s sort of at the 50-yard-line.”

Austin’s South by Southwest Festival also influenced the decision to bring the ATM here.

The Robocoin machine is housed inside downtown Austin’s Handlebar, close to where many of this year’s SXSW events will take place. Robocoin co-founder and chief technology officer John Russell said Handlebar’s proximity to SXSW was one of the most enticing aspects of the establishment to the ATM operators.

More at http://kut.org/post/whats-united-states-first-bitcoin-atm-doing-downtown-austin-bar .

Cross-posted in the Texas Group.

[Javaman]

1. an unregulated ponzi currency.

they know their demographic.

a "hip" bar with the transient name of "handle" targeting the gullible.

[FSogol]

2. Everyone be sure to invest in FSogolCoins when they come out later this year.

Why use government backed money when you can pour money down a rat hole get rich quick?

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. Because the marks will make worse decisions when they've been drinking? (nt)

[Paladin]

4. Answer: Further fucking up what used to be a really nice city.

[Earth_First]

5. A sign hangs behind the bar next to the Coors Light sign: *bitcoin not accepted as payment* n/t