# Bitcoin hits Shapeways?

July 7, 2011

Ok, the first [Bitcoin Ring](http://shpws.me/1Wa4) hits Shapeways… Close, and still very cool.

> _Bitcoin is a peer-to-peer currency. Peer-to-peer means that no central authority issues new money or tracks transactions. These tasks are managed collectively by the network._

If anyone is using Bitcoin I would love to hear your thoughts, and maybe in the future you can pay [Goebat](/content/shops/toadstool/index.html) for his ring using Bitcoin?

## 7 comments

- **Cathal**  
  [July 7, 2011 at 10:54 am](/content/blog/bitcoin-hits-shapeways#comment-4978/index.html)  
  Love the ring! I want one, for some nerd-bling.  
  My experience so far with Bitcoin has been really positive. It’s a very clever, polished system. It doesn’t really deserve its mild “difficult to use” reputation at all; people are already used to working with bank accounts, and this is no different.
  
  Money comes in and out of the same “wallet”, the only difference being that every *transaction* uses different apparent “numbered accounts”.  
  
  Payments are genuinely quick, even without using the tiny, optional transaction fees.  
  
  The only problems with Bitcoin at present that really stand out for me are:
  
  – No built-in encryption of the wallet file...  
  – Single-click payments are not yet well handled...  
  
  So, given that it’s got a really clean and usable interface and its only problems are due to people using it on insecure systems or due to stuff that simply isn’t-written-yet, it’s doing fantastically.  
  
  I’ll definitely be accepting bitcoin for my goods-and-services at indiebiotech.com...

- **Glenn Slingsby**  
  [July 7, 2011 at 1:19 pm](/content/blog/bitcoin-hits-shapeways#comment-4981/index.html)  
  I’ve looked into this and will likely adopt using Bitcoins, however I’m still unsure at just what all this “mining Bitcoins” is...

- **goebat**  
  [July 7, 2011 at 1:39 pm](/content/blog/bitcoin-hits-shapeways#comment-4984/index.html)  
  @Cathal: I’m really glad you like the ring...

- **Ryan Casey**  
  [August 8, 2011 at 6:38 pm](/content/blog/bitcoin-hits-shapeways#comment-5118/index.html)  
  @Cathal: A few corrections are in order...

- **Glenn Slingsby**  
  [July 7, 2011 at 5:44 pm](/content/blog/bitcoin-hits-shapeways#comment-4987/index.html)  
  @goebat and cathal – Thanks for the info. Very helpful.

- **Josh Harris**  
  [April 15, 2013 at 12:07 am](/content/blog/bitcoin-hits-shapeways#comment-9849/index.html)  
  Not sure if anyone still monitors this thread, but I thought it might be a good time to open a discussion...