Bitcoin not yet gaining currency on Dal campus
Bitcoin has come to Dalhousie University, even though the virtual currency isn’t accepted yet on campus.
A teller machine for the controversial new currency was unveiled Wednesday at the Dalhousie Student Union Building in Halifax.
Bitcoin is exchanged over the Internet and is seen by users as an anonymous, low-cost alternative to traditional banks.
The Bitcoin movement is growing in popularity internationally, even though authorities have expressed concerns about it. Governments say the unregulated currency is prone to exchange rate volatility, raises security concerns and attractive to criminals.
Cavirtex of Calgary, a Bitcoin exchange and service company, said its Dalhousie terminal is only the second cryptocurrency machine on a university campus in Canada.
A teller machine for the controversial new currency was unveiled Wednesday at the Dalhousie Student Union Building in Halifax.
Bitcoin is exchanged over the Internet and is seen by users as an anonymous, low-cost alternative to traditional banks.
The Bitcoin movement is growing in popularity internationally, even though authorities have expressed concerns about it. Governments say the unregulated currency is prone to exchange rate volatility, raises security concerns and attractive to criminals.
Cavirtex of Calgary, a Bitcoin exchange and service company, said its Dalhousie terminal is only the second cryptocurrency machine on a university campus in Canada.
The other is at a cafe at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, a Cavirtex official said.
“Dalhousie being one of Canada’s premiere schools, we feel it’s an excellent opportunity to bring the message of Bitcoin to the students, faculty … everyone,” Kyle Kemper, the company’s vice-president of business development, said in an interview.
An official said neither the student union nor its vendors accept Bitcoin.
“Not yet anyway,” said Holly MacDonald, member services co-ordinator for the student union. “Maybe this will spark something.”
The university and its contractors don’t take Bitcoin either, a Dalhousie spokeswoman said.
MacDonald said a group of alternative currency enthusiasts, including members of the Dalhousie Crypto Club, worked to get the terminal on campus.
The machine is operated by Bitlantic.
Kemper, a Dalhousie alumnus, said there are about 65 Bitcoin machines across the country. The campus terminal is the second in Halifax. A machine was installed at downtown pub Durty Nelly’s earlier this year.
There is also one in Moncton.
An official said neither the student union nor its vendors accept Bitcoin.
“Not yet anyway,” said Holly MacDonald, member services co-ordinator for the student union. “Maybe this will spark something.”
The university and its contractors don’t take Bitcoin either, a Dalhousie spokeswoman said.
MacDonald said a group of alternative currency enthusiasts, including members of the Dalhousie Crypto Club, worked to get the terminal on campus.
The machine is operated by Bitlantic.
Kemper, a Dalhousie alumnus, said there are about 65 Bitcoin machines across the country. The campus terminal is the second in Halifax. A machine was installed at downtown pub Durty Nelly’s earlier this year.
There is also one in Moncton.
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