It was a slow weekday night in a suburban bar restaurant bathroom when 28-year-old Janice explained to me how she gets paid in bitcoin to dine out at trendy restaurants and take yacht rides with wealthy men. 

“Men pay me in bitcoin to go on dates with them,” she said. “And, no, we don’t sleep together.” 

What’s your price in btc? 

Using websites, such as whatsyourprice.com, Janice connects with men looking to bid on dates with her. I checked it out and its lacking in terms of site design and engagement. I wouldn’t even call the system bidding as the men aren’t competing in a bidding war, but rather it’s a discrete offer and counteroffer system. It operates like traditional prostitution in that prices are negotiated online, but money is transferred face-to-face. To me it sounded both dangerous and unethical, but Janice insists it is neither of those things. 

There’s no mention of bitcoin or any preferred method of fiat on the site. It boasts an on-your-honor payment system that doesn’t feel safe or fair. There are no options for escrowing funds directly through the site. Moreover, there’s no rating system to see how other daters have fared with a particular person. 

“Generous Members,” the site reads “Meet attractive people who otherwise may have been ‘out of your league.’ Attractive Members Get reimbursed for the time and effort it takes to prepare for a date.” 

Mildly insulting to generous types to suggest attractives are out of their league, but okay. It reminds me of the nerds versus jocks mentality incels have. If stereotypes were true, then the attractives wouldn’t be the ones leveraging bitcoin escrow to ensure they get paid for doing their part.  

Janice said it was another attractive that told her to have the generous-type escrow bitcoin and then release it to her wallet as soon as she arrives for their date. This means she can leave at any time and still gets paid. The only on-your-honor here is that so long as the dude respects her boundaries, Janice won’t leave until the date has come to a natural conclusion.   

BTC is the logical safety measure  

I set up an account for research purposes. The on-your-honor payment system doesn’t feel safe or fair. There are no options for escrowing funds directly through the site. If you’re curious about my price, after three offers and a week on the site, the average was $66.67. I had two offers of $100 and one that was “no amount suggested,” which averages out to less than the average first date incentive. The site lists its first date incentive as $125. Janet commands an average of $325 per date because she counter offers.   

By escrowing funds, she gets paid even if the guy was expecting a prostitute.  

“Basically, I make it clear beforehand that it’s a date like any other except they pay me up front.” 

I joked that bitcoin is a bit like the pimp in the situation, which apparently is the sort of thing she doesn’t want joked about. She stated that bitcoin is the safety measure.    

By placing the funds in escrow and getting paid before the date, she is setting a clear boundary. He will have already paid her. If he gets out-of-line, she can end the date at any time with money-in-pocket.  

Janice explained her position, which is the somewhat radical idea that her time and wardrobe are expensive. It’s the idea the site is selling too. If she’s going to give her heart to someone, it should be someone who can afford to financially support her. Bitcoin ensures she gets paid even if she doesn’t like the guy. Her time is expensive, she said. She wants a man who understands that and is willing to pay for a chance to be with her, but she has zero tolerance for disrespect. 

How sex workers and professional daters are holding BTC 

I asked Janice when she started using bitcoin. She said an Instagram model told her that’s how she was selling personal photos and videos online. The funds are escrowed and then released after the transaction is made. Now many sex workers and professional daters are doing the same.  

I was curious how she used her bitcoin. Did she immediately transfer it to her bank account or was she holding? Turns out Janice is hodl’r.  

“I took a hit with the dip.” She said. “I’ve recovered somewhat, but I should have sold.” 

I laughed because it was odd hearing someone be so unexpectedly aware of dips.  She’s also doing other hold’rs a service when she teaches them to use bitcoin.  

“Most of the guys don’t know how to use it.” She said. “They catch on because it’s easy, and it all works out.”  

This is part one of a two-part article. I tried to reach out to responders on the site, but no one wanted to be interviewed for this article.