@travelin_light said:

First, history shows a general trend towards fewer currencies (every state and damn near every bank in the US had their own, the Euro),

It showed a general trend toward fewer newspapers, too, until print stopped mattering and everyone became a reporter. Consolidation isn't always a constant, especially online.

though I appreciate you semi-acknowledging the commodity traded "as" currency bit. I think the lack of stability is the primary reason people are staying away from bitcoins, and a huge reason not to accept them.

The instability drives some folks, such as yourself, away - but clearly attracts others, whether they're speculating on the finances of bitcoins or on the digitization of the economy. Nothing about that is a reason not to accept anything anyone wants to donate that might fund more grants.

Automatic conversion at least eliminates the concern of value decrease, which I think is a real concern. Of course the economic value of the donation does not matter to the donor after it has left his hands. But, if I donated a bunch of cymbals and saxophones to a high school band, I'd be pretty bummed if they got destroyed in transit, thus decreasing the emotional value of the donation to me. Similarly, if I donated 2 bitcoins, only to find that, before you were able to withdraw them, their value went from $1,600 to $200, I'd be disappointed that I didn't help as much as I wanted to. Economically, I'm still out the $1,600 either way, but dammit, if I'd used a credit card or written a check, at least the whole $1,600 would have ended up where I wanted it to!

We'd love to receive that check!