{"id":14202,"date":"2018-05-07T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-05-06T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www2019.dash.org\/2018\/05\/07\/portsmouth-new-hampshires-digital-currency-hotspot\/"},"modified":"2021-09-18T11:37:25","modified_gmt":"2021-09-18T11:37:25","slug":"portsmouth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dash.org\/news\/portsmouth\/","title":{"rendered":"Portsmouth: New Hampshire\u2019s Digital Currency Hotspot"},"content":{"rendered":"

New Hampshire has become home to an impressive number of cryptocurrency-accepting businesses, with several businesses\u00a0embracing the decentralized benefits of cryptocurrency by offering common payment options such as Dash, Bitcoin, and Bitcoin Cash.<\/p>\n

You can find the hub of this movement in the town of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, which is described as \u201cBitcoin Village.\u201d A significant feature of this village is the Free State Bitcoin Shoppe, a store attracting customers from high-traffic tourist areas nearby with their unique crypto-related and liberty-centric goods. However, tourists quickly learn that they can\u2019t purchase anything in the store with cash, which provides an opportunity for the proprietors of the\u00a0Free State Bitcoin Shoppe to step in and educate newcomers.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0shop founders<\/a>, Derrick J. Freeman and Steven Zeiler, have a mission to \u201cchange the money that people use.\u201d In a Q&A with the Free State Project,\u00a0Freeman said that \u201cif customers come in, set up a free wallet on their phone, and leave, I\u2019m happy that they took a step toward greater financial freedom. Success is people using cryptocurrency at stores other than our shop.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"truth<\/a><\/p>\n

Zeiler has also developed a system for local businesses to accept various cryptocurrencies as payment.\u00a0AnyPay.global<\/a>\u00a0is a new POS system spreading quickly and flourishing in the Portsmouth area.<\/p>\n

\u201cLike most people who use cryptocurrency, Steven and I have long dreamt of a physical retail shop that accepts cryptocurrency exclusively,\u201d Freeman noted in the Q&A. \u201cSo, in a sense, this idea has been brewing for almost a decade. After years of waiting, we decided that if no one was going to do it, then it would have to be us. After deciding to open a crypto-only shop, the implementation was almost immediate.\u201d<\/p>\n

Freeman also discussed in the Q&A how the shop helps introduce new users and facilitate sustained use of crypto:<\/p>\n

\u201cIn under five minutes, we help them (customers) download a digital wallet on their phone, turn their cash into crypto, and take payment. Everyone leaves feeling good. Most people have long been waiting to try bitcoin, but they\u2019ve never had someone hold their hand while they do it. Those who don\u2019t want to either don\u2019t have the time or the interest. That\u2019s to be expected. Not everyone wants bitcoin. Some people are perfectly happy with a money that funds wars and loses purchasing power every year.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n