The target market for Bitcoin use by Microsoft is XBox gamers, many of whom are under 18 years of age. This demographic doesn't have credit cards. Bitcoin will become the defacto savings and payment method for this demographic. Cash doesn't do them any good, as they can't spend it online. Bitcoin is the answer.
Microsoft has capitalized on something big here. The under-18 demographic has no way to legally spend fiat online. Now they can spend Bitcoin. Soon the under-18 demographic will begin keeping their funds in Bitcoin, as it's trapped in unusable form when left as fiat. Bitcoin will grow from this. Add to this the powerful educational effect of indoctrination at an early age, and we have a very bullish long-term effect for Bitcoin.
Microsoft has capitalized on something big here. The under-18 demographic has no way to legally spend fiat online. Now they can spend Bitcoin. Soon the under-18 demographic will begin keeping their funds in Bitcoin, as it's trapped in unusable form when left as fiat. Bitcoin will grow from this. Add to this the powerful educational effect of indoctrination at an early age, and we have a very bullish long-term effect for Bitcoin.
Interesting, until you think it through:
BTC is not spent directly--it must be added to your MS account.
BTC must be purchased--why would a kid steal mom's credit card to shop for BTC @ circle.com, when he could fund his account directly?
finally, what's wrong with conventional way of doing things?
Your assumption that kids steal their parents credit cards to fund their activities is flawed. Many kids have cash and don't want to ask their parents every time they wish to spend it online. A simple trip to a Bitcoin ATM will convert it to a form that can be spent in many places online. They won't keep it all in a Microsoft account, since that cannot be withdrawn.
A simple trip to a store would get them a cash card/prepaid CC. Those can be spent in more places on and offline
Or, you know, just get xbox card.Re: "won't keep it all in a Microsoft account, since that cannot be withdrawn": They have to fund their MS account to use BTC. That's the only way MS accepts BTC.
That could work for those with cash. But you can avoid the trip to the store after receiving Bitcoin online if you just use the Bitcoin directly. That implies the target demographic is truly those who earn Bitcoin, such as through tips or providing online services in exchange for Bitcoin.