A brief correspondence on Twitter between a man and Chairman of the Wikimedia Foundation Jimmy Wales revealed that the organization that cares for the Wikipedia only encyclopedia is “cautious” about accepting bitcoin.
No specific reasons were provided, though it should be noted that according to Wales, “Staff are looking into lightweight implementation and will make recommendation to [the] board”.
@mrschtief Staff are looking into lightweight implementation and will make recommendation to board as I understand it. We are cautious. 🙂
— Jimmy Wales (@jimmy_wales) April 11, 2014
This isn’t Jimmy’s first run-in with bitcoin. In early March, Wales noted that he was playing around with bitcoins and even started an accidental donation drive for Wikipedia, in which over 10 bitcoins were donated.
It was the community’s way of saying, “Hey! Accept bitcoins!”, and whether or not that will happen remains to be seen.
In the eyes of some in the bitcoin community, Wikipedia accepting donations would further legitimize bitcoin’s image — in which many unfamiliar with it think it’s an outlaw’s currency.
What do you think Wikimedia is cautious about?
