UPDATED 14:41 EDT / DECEMBER 22 2014

Last Minute Bitcoin Christmas Gift Buyers Guide 2014

bitcoin-blue-ribbon-giftIt’s been said that 2014 would be the year of merchant adoption—and with numerous merchants climbing on board it’s been exactly that. Now, the Yuletide is upon us, you likely have bitcoins jingling in your digital wallet, and you’re wondering what to buy with bitcoins to make gifts for beneath the Christmas tree. Look no further, the elves at SiliconAngle have compiled a short list of potential gifts that can be bought for bitcoin.

If you’ve got someone in your life who is enthusiastic about Bitcoin and you’d like to buy Bitcoin-based gifts, there’s also a guide for that.

Everyone loves electronics

This year has seen several different electronics merchants start accepting bitcoins, this means that there’s as huge variety of places to go to spend bitcoins on digital gifts.

Tigerdirect has helpfully released a 2014 gift guide with sales and advice on what to buy and how to send it as a gift. The company also started accepting bitcoins earlier this year. Gifts from $25 – $100 are listed, including gift cards. How about an illuminated wireless keyboard? Or a SanDisk Cruzer USB flash drive?

Newegg has started the “20 Days of Techmas” promotion and that means sales and deals in all sorts of mobile devices, computers, and other electronics. The bonus, Newegg started accepting bitcoins this year as well.

Dell also accepts bitcoins, but their holiday sale lineup is extremely sparse this wintry season. Maybe it might bulk up a little as Christmas approaches.

large_BitDazzle_logo_256Clothing and accessories at BitDazzle

Nothing quite says Christmas like an ugly pair of socks or a hideous sweater—or maybe a necklace or ring you’ll never wear. Looking for something that will fit nicely into a neatly-wrapped present or dropped into a stocking above the fireplace? BitDazzle offers a multitude of deals on items that are right inside the $40-90 range and work nicely as gifts.

For example, Blue Steel Jewelry is selling an interesting prism cut stylish ring made out of tungsten for approximately 0.16 BTC ($50). Or choose from all manner of clothing from dresses to T-shirts. Know someone with an iPhone who is into sailing ships? How about a real-wood iPhone case featuring a nautical compass for approximately 0.079 BTC ($25).

BitDazzle provides a nice, quick solution to getting something right under the wire.

Send flowers via BloomNation

While it’s not the traditional Yule gift, there’s no day that flowers won’t brighten up during the wintry season (especially for people who live in the great white North) and BloomNation takes bitcoins.

It’s easier than attempting to wrap a gift, carry it over (or ship it), especially for anyone who is at a distance from the recipient. Furthermore, BloomNation supports florists local to the recipient, which means that the flowers delivered will be from nearby—and given the potential for ice and snow, a vibrant bouquet could warm any heart dampened by iron-grey skies.

gyft-logo-envelope

The best Gyft of the season

The mobile-based gift card company Gyft is included in both guides because it’s just so easy to use it to get a gift card and you can get gift cards for bitcoin. When you just don’t know someone’s tastes or you’re really running out of time, a gift card has become one of the most common ways to get into the spirit of giving.

Gyft offers digital gift cards at a premium price from over 200 retailers including Amazon.com, Best Buy, Target and Dell.

Getting a gift card with bitcoin is easy and prominently displayed as a payment option. It makes for a perfect way to buy a digital gift with digital money for your loved ones this Yule season and marks with it a significant ease of use. Just rev up your mobile wallet and go.

Give the gift of bitcoins

While it’s possible to give bitcoins to anyone with a bitcoin wallet—the best way to give the gift of bitcoins is still going to be a paper wallet. In fact, the entire concept of paper wallets makes a brilliant stocking stuffer or something that can be slid into a Christmas card.

Yes, it’s a lot like giving someone money but this guide is all about Bitcoin and paper wallets aren’t just cash or a check: they’re a physically crafted object that can be transformed by any manner of design and desire.

You can design your own (using a template and a basic understanding) or use a site such as bitcoinpaperwallet.com, there’s even a Christmas-themed printable template available.

A Christmas-themed template from bitcoinpaperwallet.com

A Christmas-themed template from bitcoinpaperwallet.com

Perhaps you’ll be one of the first people to craft a bitcoin-plush-wallet out of a doll. I imagine that it could be done by sewing the public address QR code onto the front of a button-up jacket, and then sewing the private key onto the inside of the jacket. Recipient can then use the address on front to verify the amount (or deposit) and open up the jacket to get the private key. Make the private key detachable (perhaps part of a lining) and viola the doll becomes a mobile deposit code for that address.

With the nature of paper wallets, the craft and care that can be put into making one could be endless–although, perhaps not the best last minute gift buy. Maybe next year.

Or, channel your inner Krampus

Still feel the spirit of giving but not in a Santa Claus mood? Why not dip into the legend of Santa and instead go with a prank gift instead by channeling your inner Krampus. In Santa folklore, Krampus is a small, horned figure who accompanies the Jolly Saint on his rounds and it’s his job to punish children who misbehave.

For the people on your naughty-list look to ShitExpress. Read up on the SiliconAngle coverage of this odd operation for more information.

Not exactly the traditional Christmas gift, but if the humor is right (or the recipient has been very bad) you can ship a box filled with horse hockey anywhere in the world for just $16.95 USD or approximately 0.051 BTC. Of course, if horse isn’t your flavor of the season, you can choose between several different animal types.

Unfortunately, ShitExpress doesn’t have any Christmas-y options for delivery, such as no festive wrapping for your poop-delivery. Perhaps it’s best for the Krampus to speak for itself when making a statement.

Merry Christmas everyone!


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