Silk Road forums

Discussion => Security => Topic started by: sparkus88 on April 29, 2013, 11:18 pm

Title: buying btc in UK
Post by: sparkus88 on April 29, 2013, 11:18 pm
I'm looking for somewhere to buy btc online, not OTC. I had been using blockchain but they aren't taking deposits from uk anymore. Also found bitbargain.co.uk but most of the sellers have a minimum buy of 20+ btc, i'm only wanting a few at a time with these prices. The only ones with lower min orders have stupidly high prices. Anyone got any suggestions?
Title: Re: buying btc in UK
Post by: lukeuser on April 30, 2013, 03:00 am
I've bought single and half bitcoins on bitbargain. In fact, that's the only place I've bought them. Unfortunately, as you say, the prices tend to be a bit high, like, I paid I think 112 pounds/bitcoin for 3 recently (they were at around 100 on mtgox).

I just looked there, and the prices don't seem that bad, except no-one is online. I can't recommend anywhere else, unfortunately.
Title: Re: buying btc in UK
Post by: awhiteknight on April 30, 2013, 03:05 am
Just as a matter of interest, why not #bitcoin-otc or #bitcoin-otc-uk?

You could always do the AML thing with MtGox and do euro bank transfer, but it will cost you about twenty quid.
Title: Re: buying btc in UK
Post by: happertand on May 01, 2013, 03:50 pm
Urgh, such a headache acquiring BTC in the UK atm, WTF???

Bitbargain is a total rip off!!! Their prices have stabilized as of late but a couple of weeks ago it was like 30%+ the price it was on mtgox, daylight fucking robbery.

I bought some BTC form an SR vendor at a 10% commission rate, just search for them on SR, there are many. Most charge a 15% fee but I found one that charged only 10%.

PayPal where art thou?!?!!?
Title: Re: buying btc in UK
Post by: inyala on May 01, 2013, 04:01 pm
I've used bitcoinbargain - prices not too bad today. Very easy and quick.
There are also a few UK selllers on SR via BT - think + 10/15% on Mt Gox.
Title: Re: buying btc in UK
Post by: Japan1980 on May 01, 2013, 04:06 pm
Plenty on e-bay!!!

Risky as fuck though - I guess washing the dirt from them before sending them to your SR address could work??

I must admit, while completely off my tits I did purchase 1 coin from a vendor on e-bay and sent them to a different wallet, before washing them and putting them into SR....I was off my tits at the time and probably wouldn't advise it, and I wouldn't of done it if I was straight!!

I did get the coin in less than 10 minutes though.

Just remember be vigilant - which I clearly wasn't that night. But as far as I'm aware buying Bitcoins isn't illegal, it's what you do with them that is!!!
Title: Re: buying btc in UK
Post by: Japan1980 on May 01, 2013, 07:26 pm
I've bought single and half bitcoins on bitbargain. In fact, that's the only place I've bought them. Unfortunately, as you say, the prices tend to be a bit high, like, I paid I think 112 pounds/bitcoin for 3 recently (they were at around 100 on mtgox).

I just looked there, and the prices don't seem that bad, except no-one is online. I can't recommend anywhere else, unfortunately.

Just now was the first time I've used bitbargain, thanks to this thread!

Good site and very quick easy transactions - just tested the water and bought 1BTC - managed to get it for £86 which I thought wasn't too bad.

So thanks to those who brought bitbargain to my attention  ;D


I remember when BTC's were around £3 each - Kicking myself I didn't buy 500 or so back then and kept hold of them <grrr>
Title: Re: buying btc in UK
Post by: happertand on May 02, 2013, 11:37 am
Plenty on e-bay!!!

The first sale I found....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-Bitcoin-UK-Seller-/121104519240?pt=UK_Coins_World_RL&hash=item1c32645048

1BTC for £140?!

That is almost DOUBLE the price on MTGox which is currently at £72.48. No thanks!
Title: Re: buying btc in UK
Post by: Japan1980 on May 02, 2013, 12:53 pm
£140!!! Seriously WTF!

I think I paid about £88 at the time, which was expensive but I was rolling hard and went in recklessly!! I won't be doing it again though. I find bitbargain to be good. Not too bad prices either and so easy and quick to use.
Title: Re: buying btc in UK
Post by: oneiroi on May 02, 2013, 12:54 pm
localbitcoins or bitstamp.net
Title: Re: buying btc in UK
Post by: pakchoi23 on May 02, 2013, 02:14 pm
Another vote for bitstamp.net ****EDIT*** See this thread: http://dkn255hz262ypmii.onion/index.php?topic=151666 It looks like bitstamp may not be secure at all ***EDIT***

You will have to transfer Euros to a European bank account, and your bank will charge you for this but it doesn't take too long.

In a rush with money to burn? Try From One To Another on SR. 15% commission but they are fast as fook. I had BTC in my SR wallet within 10 minutes of the money transfer. great stuff when SR is up and down like a yo-yo.
Title: Re: buying btc in UK
Post by: happertand on May 02, 2013, 03:08 pm
I haven't heard of bitstamp.net before, will check it out.

It's great to be able to acquire BTC on eBay as I can imagine it's really fast so I will defo keep that on my radar for future reference. Might be the lucky sod to get loads of BTC from an auction at a decent price!
Title: Re: buying btc in UK
Post by: ukbenjy on May 03, 2013, 12:33 am
If you guys are doing SEPA transfers to Bitstamp or Mt Gox, <<<CLEARNET>>> https://transferwise.com <<<CLEARNET>>>  will do it for £1, which is definitely cheaper than your bank! Their rates are good as well.

Hope I save someone some money!  ;D
Title: Re: buying btc in UK
Post by: PsilocybinReality on May 03, 2013, 08:59 am
Thanks guys, this is thread is quite helpful.

Does the fact that it's so difficult to get bitcoins at the moment suggest some sort of  a conspiracy against crypto-currencies by the major UK banks and financial institutions?

Seems they've been cracking down on all the convenient means of payment.
Title: Re: buying btc in UK
Post by: happertand on May 03, 2013, 11:18 am
Seems they've been cracking down on all the convenient means of payment.

Seems like it yes, very frustrating to say the least!!
Title: Re: buying btc in UK
Post by: Wepromisetwenty on May 03, 2013, 11:42 am
localbitcoins.com is okay. Similar to bitbargain - It sucks that these rip off sites are now our only option doesnt it :| I miss blockchain.

Why did they stop selling to the UK? I remember reading something about fraud problems.. Anyone shed some light?
Title: Re: buying btc in UK
Post by: pakchoi23 on May 03, 2013, 11:57 am
If you guys are doing SEPA transfers to Bitstamp or Mt Gox, <<<CLEARNET>>> https://transferwise.com <<<CLEARNET>>>  will do it for £1, which is definitely cheaper than your bank! Their rates are good as well.

Hope I save someone some money!  ;D

Transferwise won't transfer to bitcoin sites now. They stopped last Monday. I ordered Sunday and got my BTC Monday morning, they rushed tho all the orders and shut down. So transferwise --->bitstamp doesn't work anymore.

I used bitbargain yesterday and it was quick. I had BTC in 10 minutes. Took about an hour to move to SR. I paid £159 for 2 bitcoins.
Title: Re: buying btc in UK
Post by: Japan1980 on May 03, 2013, 02:22 pm
@ pakchoi23

I've also been using bitbargain and it is so quick and easy, and depending who is online selling them you can get some very good prices too.

From Bitbargain to my storage account to SR in about 1 hour 15 minutes.... Ideal.
Title: Re: buying btc in UK
Post by: PsilocybinReality on May 03, 2013, 03:20 pm
@ pakchoi23

I've also been using bitbargain and it is so quick and easy, and depending who is online selling them you can get some very good prices too.


Really? I just checked and the cheapest offer I  could see was £88.75/btc, with the current Mt Gox price at £62. And I checked this morning and it wasn't much different.

How often do you see more reasonable prices?
Title: Re: buying btc in UK
Post by: Japan1980 on May 03, 2013, 06:57 pm
I guess it just depends if you're lucky enough to have a good vendor at the time you look. I got 2 BTC's for £151 earlier - over the mtgox rate, but I can't be bothered with all the waiting about for mtgox, their service is shocking (including their customer service). I did use to use mtgox before it went under for a while - but in reality they're a bunch of useles time wasting fukwits.

The busier bitbargain is the better the price you'll get - but like I say, it's not going to be too cheap as the vendors have to pay their fee's per sale etc etc. I just like it because it is seriously quick to get coins in and out. I'm not exactly rich but I'm impatient and don't mind spending a little extra for an instant service. But I guess if you've got time to wait and not much money then mtgox will always be better.

I just like the idea of if I'm shopping on SR and I'm a couple of bitcoins short for what I need I can get them nice and quick. Even if you're 0.1 short you can just buy that measly amount.

But as I say it's potluck who is on vending at the time...plus all the recent fluctuation doesn't help as vendors aren't sure whether to stick or sell low, and run the risk of the prices rising again.

Title: Re: buying btc in UK
Post by: Kinetic on May 03, 2013, 09:56 pm
Transferwise won't transfer to bitcoin sites now. They stopped last Monday. I ordered Sunday and got my BTC Monday morning, they rushed tho all the orders and shut down. So transferwise --->bitstamp doesn't work anymore.
CurrencyFair.com offer a similar service.

It's a  €3 flat fee for the SEPA transfer to Bitstamp.
Title: Re: buying btc in UK
Post by: wrappit on May 03, 2013, 11:07 pm
Could also try speedybitcoins.co.uk but will need an invite and support is not so quick off the ball to send it. Prolly take a few days but once set-up is real easy to purchase for low commission. Only problem is you don't see the prices.

Otherwise, SEPA transfer or localbitcoins which i believe has better rates than bitbargain. You will obviously pay a premium but for a quick and easy transaction, it's the place to go.

There's also bitcoinary and Ripple (launching properly soon). Worth checking out anyways. Good luck!
Title: Re: buying btc in UK
Post by: pakchoi23 on May 04, 2013, 06:14 pm
Looks like it may be unwise to use bitstamp . net  :o

Read this thread: http://dkn255hz262ypmii.onion/index.php?topic=151666

It explains that some people have had their accounts flagged as being associated with IP addresses connected to unlawful activity.

Not a risk worth taking.