The Netherlands is one of the leading countries in adopting Bitcoin and Blockchain technology.
To make a comparison between countries on the adoption grade easier, I estimated a Blockchain Adaption Score, considering 5 spectres:
- Buying Bitcoin: How easy is it to buy Bitcoin?
- Paying with Bitcoin: How about paying opportunities with Bitcoin?
- Blockchain-economy: Start-up scene, communities, established companies adopting blockchain & education.
- Search Trends: How popular is Bitcoin & Blockchain in the mainstream?
- Governance: How is the state dealing with cryptocurrencies and Blockchain technology?
If you have any missing info on Blockchain in the Netherlands, please comment.
1. Buy and trade Bitcoin in the Netherlands (score 3.5/10)
ATM situation
There are currently 8 Bitcoin ATMs listed in the Netherlands, which is not much but still more than most other developed countries.
BTC ATM density: 0.47 per million residents
2. Pay with Bitcoin (score 5/10)
Coinmap.org is revealing about 200 entries in the Netherlands, which is a lot in relation to population numbers. The hot spot is Arnhem with over 80 entries, followed by Amsterdam (38) and Rotterdam with The Haag (14 each). In Arnhem, claiming to be the most Bitcoin friendly city in the world, there even is a Burger King accepting Bitcoin.For a complete list of international and local Bitcoin accepting options check Bitcoin Wiki.
(This overview is only including local facilities accepting Bitcoin. Probably incomplete, so please post your links in the comments.)
3. Blockchain Economy (score 8/10)
Community: high level
Arnhem-Bitcoin-Users Meetup.
bitcoin Wednesdy Asterdam Meetup +3000 members.
Bitcoin Embassy.
Bitcoin Embassy Global Network.
Blockchain Workspace & courses in Amsterdam.
Bitcoinspot - is a news platform on Bitcoin.
Start-ups
The technology Start-up scene in the Netherlands is generally vibrant - so no surprise there is also much going on with Blockchain, Fintech and BTC.
Blockchain Hackathon is a hub für start-ups and investors.
Brightlands Innovation Factory offers an incubation program for Blockchain start-ups.
Bitmymoney is a BTC trading platform.
Bitonic: Bitcoin exchange.
Bitstraat helps retailers to adopt Bitcoin.
Fundrs - escrow transactions based on Blockchain technology.
Guldencoin is a popular Dutch cryptocurrency.
Bitpay a Bitcoin wallet with Paycard.
io digital - a Blockchain ecosystem for storage, id manegement and messaging.
Bitfury Group offers 'full service Blockchain Technology'.
Florin for easy Bitcoin and Altcoin payment.
One Up company - building Blockchain apps.
Dutch Chain is building Blockchain solutions.
Corporate Initiatives:
State owned bank ABN Ambro is experimenting with Blockchain Tech.
Blockchain Coalition by Dutch Digital Delta is a governmental initiative for supporting Blockchain, which is also backed by many major companies.
Global energy player Royal Dutch Shell Blockchain initiative includes joining Grid Singularity for more effective energy trading and nonprofit Energy Web Foundation to bring more sustainability to the energy market.
Ethereum Enterprise Alliance members from the Netherlands: (1/116)
Listed Member: ING
Global Bitcoin Nodes Distribution: NL is ranked 4th with 436 nodes (5.63%)
Education
- Blockchain lab at Delft university of Technology is 're-inventing money'.
- Several other Dutch universities are involved with Blockchain Hackathon
4. Bitcoin Trends Netherlands (score 7/10)
Google Trends is a great source to get a glimpse of the popularity of certain search terms. I checked how the Dutch people were searching here in the last 7 days, in comparison with the global community.
Bitcoin: 10.
Ethereum: 4.
Steemit: 12.
Blockchain: 8.
5. Known Government and Central Bank activities (score 6.5/10)
Dutch Digital Delta is a governmental initiative for supporting Blockchain, which is also supported by many universities and major companies like Rabobank, ING, Port of Rotterdam and de Volksbank.
An ambitious Blockchain experiment of the Dutch National Bank recently raised attention.
Overview Score Netherlands:
1. Buy and Trade Bitcoin: (score 3.5/10)
2. Pay with Bitcoin (score 5/10)
3. Blockchain economy (score 8/10)
4. Google Trends Netherlands (score 7/10)
5. Governance (score 6.5/10)
Overall
Blockchain Adaption Score
Netherlands:
(6/10)
The next country I will check is Switzerland.
Very bright future for the cryptos. A good way to get out of euro
Upvote here
I very much appreciate this series of articles Thomas.
Thanks - it is interesting how much is actually going on...
Your articles have already been helpful for me when discussing crypto with people, giving me facts and figures to call upon.
great! :D
Excellent information