The first Bitcoin baby: how a fertility doctor encouraged early adoption
In 2012, Dr. C. Terence Lee became one of the first professionals to accept Bitcoin for medical services, aiming to onboard his patients to the cryptocurrency. He initially attracted some attention with a sign and a Reddit post, leading to his first Bitcoin transaction for a sperm test. Although initial reactions varied, he found some patients enthusiastic about Bitcoin, particularly when offering discounts for payments in BTC. One couple, after multiple IVF attempts, paid in Bitcoin for their treatment, resulting in what was claimed to be the world’s first Bitcoin baby, born in 2013. They paid thirty Bitcoins for the service—a sum worth $500 at the time but valued at $3 million today. Following this event, other patients also chose to pay with Bitcoin, contributing to more Bitcoin babies. However, Dr. Lee noted that the growing popularity of Bitcoin has shifted its usual usage from everyday transactions to a focus on holding it for potential future gains. This shift raises questions about Bitcoin’s evolution as it may return to being used as a currency in the future, depending on its price stability and user adoption.
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