Chicago Sun-Times Testing Bitcoin Paywall System for Its Website

If you’ve heard of bitcoin but aren’t quite sure what it is, don’t worry. You’re not alone. But more people are starting to embrace the concept, and now a major newspaper is getting in the digital currency game. The Chicago Sun-Times is partnering with a startup called BitWall to test out a paywall for the site that accepts bitcoins.

BitWall says its mission statement is to “unlock the Internet’s monetization potential” and help sites turn “users into paying customers.” And so the Sun-Times is now apparently embracing it for a one-day test on its website.

For 24 hours on February 1st, 2014, Chicago Sun-Times readers will be prompted to donate Bitcoins to or Tweet about the Taproot Foundation to test the functionality and acceptance of Bitcoins on the site…

BitWall CEO Nic Meliones said: “The Chicago Sun-Times is showing its technological leadership by being the first major newspaper to adopt a social paywall and Bitcoin-powered monetization strategy. Bitcoin is an innovative technology well suited to online monetization.”

There are only a few business now that accept bitcoin, including Overstock.com, and digital currency is starting to get so much widespread attention that some entrepreneurs attempted to set up a Kanye West bitcoin alternative.

[h/t Poynter]

[photo via Shutterstock]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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