http://www.independent.co.uk/news/bu...e-8913907.html

I think you get a better rate if you buy them on an exchange than use that machine. I don't have a problem with the palm scan though.

What does it do with the palm scan? Is that part of the requirements in using bitcoins?

No, it's not directly connected with using bitcoins. I'm a bit perplexed by it especially as they say the scanned image isn't kept, the machine just snapchats it.



(I use "snapchat" here to mean an application that promises one thing, picture disposal, but actually does another, picture retention).

Lost me. Presumably the palm image used for identification?

The point of bitcoins is that they're anonymous.

I thought the point was that they are digital?

The palm scan is a requirement to use the Bitcoin ATM only. The financial regulators want to prevent anyone from transferring more than $3000 per day. In theory the photos should be deleted every 24 hours but I don't know if they are or not.

Bitcoin itself isn't truly anonymous. Everyone can view one another's bitcoin address and see their transactions on the blockchain. You just can't put a name to the address.

An introductory video on bitcoins...

http://www.theguardian.com/news/data...cryptocurrency

Still trying to get my head around it.