[Gimp-developer] Added Bitcoin donation option

[Michael Schumacher <schumaml gmx de>]

Hi there,

we have added a Bitcoin address as a donation option to our donations 
page at http://www.gimp.org/donating/

The address is: 1NVMCeoBfTAJQ1qwX2Dx1C8zkcRCQWwHBq

Was is Bitcoin? Wikipedia to the rescue:

"Bitcoin (BTC) is an online digital currency that is based on an 
open-source, peer-to-peer encryption protocol first described in 2009 by 
a pseudonymous developer (or developers) Satoshi Nakamoto. Bitcoin is 
not managed by any government or central authority. Instead, it relies 
on an Internet-based network. [...]

Bitcoins can be transferred through a computer or smartphone locally or 
internationally without an intermediate financial institution. Each 
bitcoin is subdivided into 100 million smaller units called satoshis, 
defined by eight decimal places."

Check out the Wikipedia article at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitcoin 
for more information.


There has been demand for a Bitcoin donation option for some time 
already. We had delayed that option because we couldn't really use 
Bitcoins per se - I still do not know about any place where plane 
tickets are for sale, and these are our biggest expenses overall.

But there are finally some reliable exchanges popping up, which are 
located in countries where the responsible treasuries regulate them like 
any other exchange (i.e. not the Cayman Isles :)

More recently I chose to delay adding the address due to the current 
Bitcoin hype, with prices well over USD 200 - I didn't want GIMP to 
appear like an opportunist who's just after quick money. Prices are now 
returning to sane levels, and stability in regard to exchange rates 
seems to return as well.


We use the donated money to reimburse GIMP team members for travel and 
accommodation to conferences, most prominently the Libre Graphics Meetings.

For Libre Graphics Meeting 2013 in Madrid, España (an awesome event, 
which all of us who went there are glad to have been able to attend), we 
also contributed to the global refund pool and sponsored drinks for the 
conference party at "Mi madre era una Groupie" in Calle Santa Polonia.


Regards,
Michael on behalf of the GIMP team