n February 2015, the number of merchants accepting bitcoin for products and services passed 100,000.[30] Instead of 2–3% typically imposed by credit card processors, merchants accepting bitcoins often pay fees in the range from 0% to less than 2%.[31] Despite the fourfold increase in the number of merchants accepting bitcoin in 2014, the cryptocurrency did not have much momentum in retail transactions.[32] The European Banking Authority[33] and other sources[14]:11 have warned that bitcoin users are not protected by refund rights or chargebacks.
The use of bitcoin by crimin