The answer is "it IS real currency". How do you tell "real" currency from fake? If people accept it as a store of value, it's real.
Actually, it is real to the extent that people accept it. So Bitcoins aren't AS real as dollars, but they're still real. And hypothetical bitcoin company will have the same problems as a company that uses some obscure third-world currency.
There is no way other than a gray market mechanism. To extract cash from Mtgox, you can move it through Liberty Reserve and try to get it into a bank (it may not work). Alternatively, you may be able to find someone willing to trade larger volumes. It's possible to exchange small sums via paypal, though that's not very relevant to a business.
Right now there is too much hype and too little time to establish a stable valuation. Bitcoin is moved by the speculators and not investors or savers.
There exists an open source bitcoin exchange, but it is still in its early phases (mentioned in the Calacanis interview.) Theoretically, if the company was large enough, they could open an exchange. That's what PayPal should do: accept bitcoin and open up an exchange.
Using MTGOX.com just convert it back to USD, you'll be charged however a 0.65% fee. From there you can transfer it to a personal or business Dwolla account for only $0.25 cents. From Dwolla you can deposit it into your bank account for free.
Too many steps in my opinion but hey, it is an entirely new currency.
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[ 5.2 ms ] story [ 32.2 ms ] threadActually, it is real to the extent that people accept it. So Bitcoins aren't AS real as dollars, but they're still real. And hypothetical bitcoin company will have the same problems as a company that uses some obscure third-world currency.
https://mtgox.com/
Right now there is too much hype and too little time to establish a stable valuation. Bitcoin is moved by the speculators and not investors or savers.
here it is: https://gitorious.org/intersango/ by http://bitcoinconsultancy.com/
Too many steps in my opinion but hey, it is an entirely new currency.
They might convert it, but might get better value looking for things they need. (Their demands will be more diverse than a business.)
1. Establish a company and go public with it.
2. Invest all said company's money in Bitcoin
3. Short the company's stock
4. $ Profit $