when will we start seeing vending machines that accept Bitcoins?
however, US Treasury is now actively considering changing our coinage. Seems it costs about a dime to manufacture a nickel - just as an example. They're considering smaller, they're considering different metals, they're considering... I dunno what else.
why not use bitcoin?
as you said, this could be a big opportunity, but how would people without electronic devices pay for food and stuff?
you would need at least a smartphone to be able to use bitcoin
Well, I imagine most people would buy most of their food in grocery stores. Just as they do today.
My point is that ... changing how all vending machines work is an expensive proposition. It won't happen )at least existing units in the field won't get retrofitted) unless there is there is a sufficiently disrupting event. Changing the coinage is such an event - the old machines won't work with the new coins - period. But once the machines _must_ be changed, they could add both the new coinage and bitcoin. * At this point, the incremental cost of also adding bitcoin would not be that great.
*And perhaps an inventory monitoring system that is internet-connected, to be able to phone home when stock is running low.