We recently reported on the social experiment being done at MIT, whereby a whole Bitcoin ecosystem would be created for undergraduate students to take part in. As a follow-up to this, Coinbase has has offered $10 worth of bitcoin to students who sign up to the service.
Cynically, this may look like a company cashing in on a zeitgeist. However, anything that encourages people to use Bitcoin is useful, and the handing of out bitcoin currency (note the lower case b!), is certainly one way to do that.
As we originally reported,
“The funds have been raised via MIT alumni and the Bitcoin community. It’s expected that each of the 4,528 undergraduate students will receive $100 worth of Bitcoin. The aim of the project is to encourage the creation of a digital currency ecosystem on the MIT campus. To support this effort, the duo have a series of activities planned to create interest and buzz around the initiative. For example, on May 3rd the pair have organised a Bitcoin Expo which will include presentations from the likes of Gavin Andresen, Alan Reiner, Ryan X. Charles, and other cryptocurrency luminaries.”
In its follow up, Coinbase posted to its blog:
“At Coinbase, we were inspired by this project and hope we can contribute to the growing interest of bitcoin among college students. To support bitcoin awareness among college students, today we are announcing a bitcoin giveaway: we are gifting $10 worth of bitcoin to students who create a new Coinbase account using their .edu email address. In addition, people who refer others at their school will get $1 for each person referred. “
Are you a student in the US that has been a recipient of benevolent bitcoins? Let us know in the comments.
