Introduction
BTCMap.org uses an open source dataset provided by OpenStreetMap. If you are serious about supporting Bitcoin adoption in your area, you should consider opening an OSM account and contributing to our mission to enable Bitcoiners to easily find places to spend sats anywhere on the planet.
Copyright
https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright
OSM contributors are reminded never to add data from any copyrighted sources (e.g. Google Maps or printed maps) without explicit permission from the copyright holders.
Noobs 🙂
If you only want to add a few places and you aren't planning to maintain them, there is a simple form you can fill in and our community will add your data to the OSM database. Our resources are limited, so please consider learning how to add and edit data on OSM yourself if you have time.
If you want to verify information on an existing location, there is also a simple form to do that.
You can learn more about OSM tagging in the Beginners Guide. We have also made a walkthrough video.
You can also slide into the BTC Map Discord if you have any questions. You'll be editing like a Shadowy Supertagger in no time!
Shadowy Supertaggers 🥷
Earn badges, sats, and recognition on BTC Map for your contributions. Your efforts will be featured on our Activity Feed, Leaderboard, and you will get your very own Tagger Profile too!
Once you have an OpenStreetMap account, you can use the OSM iD web app to edit the maps directly on OpenStreetMap.org.
A video tutorial can be found here.
Contributing
Add new locations or update existing ones directly as you see fit, or help with the backlog of submissions from the Noob Form at one of the links below:
If you're a serious tagger, please consider joining the Shadowy Supertagger Team on Gitea so you can manage issues. We have a Supertagger Discord channel to get you on-boarded.
Please use the following guidance when editing locations:
Physical Verification and Local Knowledge
Our main goal is to provide the public with an accurate dataset and locals know best. Please try to prioritize locations with close physical proximity to you. Make sure that you're relying on the most accurate data, such as:
- On-site survey
- Direct phone/email/socials
- Various online sources (be careful about copyright); not all online data is free to use! The official website of the merchant is usually the best online source.
Relying on a form submission without any additional checks is strongly discouraged. The information submitted should be verified to ensure we are adding accurate data to OpenStreetMap.
Double-check Coordinates
If taking on issues submitted from the Add Location form, you can and should make adjustments to the exact pin location if you notice it is incorrect. The person submitting the location will not be a mapping expert and that is ok - this is where the extra validation by the Supertagger can help improve the data accuracy. Any submissions with completely invalid locations (like in the middle of the ocean) can be closed as not-planned with the reason provided in a comment.
Source of Data
Each submission will contain information about the source of the data, so that taggers will know if it was completed by the business owner, a customer, or by another method. Some submissions may also include contact information, which can be used to follow up if further information is required.
Tagging Guidance
Nodes or Ways?
If an existing Node or Way exists, use whatever is already in place. If you are adding a new element, you should add a Node representing the merchant at that location. Local taggers will handle tagging buildings as Ways as appropriate.
More information on element types can be found here.
Required Tags
currency:XBT=yes - This denotes the Bitcoin currency is generally accepted, but doesn't specify the supported payment types.
currency:XBT=no - This denotes the Bitcoin currency is not generally accepted.
Strongly recommended tags
The following tags drive the behavior of our apps, so please be as specific as you can when tagging.
payment:onchain=yes - Denotes that on-chain payments are accepted.
payment:onchain=no - Denotes that on-chain payments are not accepted.
payment:lightning=yes - This denotes that Lightning payments are accepted.
payment:lightning=no - This denotes that Lightning payments are not accepted.
payment:lightning_contactless=yes - This denotes that NFC Lightning payments are accepted.
payment:lightning_contactless=no - This denotes that NFC Lightning payments are not accepted.
Verified tags - more information
survey:date=yyyy-mm-dd - Use this tag when the location has been physically verified in person by you. Please use the correct ISO date format as shown.
check_date=yyyy-mm-dd - Use this tag when the location has been verified with local knowledge or extrapolation. Please use the correct ISO date format as shown.
check_date:currency:XBT=yyyy-mm-dd - You can reduce the scope of the information checked by using this tag. For example, use this tag if you have only checked the Bitcoin tags. Please use the correct ISO date format as shown.
You should verify all the present tags (if possible) when you are adding Bitcoin tags to an existing location.
Legacy Tags
payment:bitcoin=yes - This is a very popular legacy tag implying both currency:XBT=yes and payment:onchain=yes. You should remove the payment:bitcoin=yes tag when adding the currency:XBT=yes tag.
We still search for these legacy tags for general display in the apps, but we won't be specific about the payment types supported. You should really remove them when updating with the current tagging rules.
Here is the complete list of legacy places (click the "Run" button once it has loaded). You are encouraged to verify them. Clicking on any place in the list will open the OSM iD editor. If the place still exists, modify it using the guidance above. If the place no longer exists, you can remove it from OSM. In cases where a place still exists but no longer accepts Bitcoin, simply remove the payment:bitcoin=yes tag.
Other OpenStreetMap tags
OpenStreetMap is an incredibly flexible platform with tags for a variety of different features.
Here are some useful links that may be useful for your location:
It is easy to look up all the available tags and their use cases in the OSM Wiki.
Changeset Comments
Every edit on OpenStreetMap has the option to add a changeset comment. This is an important way for other OSM contributors to get a quick idea of what the edit contained. You should include a short description of your changes in this field.
Please include:
- The
#btcmaphashtag in your changeset comments so that the activity is associated with our Organised Editing initiative. - Under
source, the Issue ID in the formissue:1234as a minimum. Refrain from using "Local Knowledge" as a proxy unless you have this first hand and be as specific as possible, e.g. "Confirmed via email with business owner".
Other OSM contributors may ask clarification questions, so please monitor your email and respond to any non-frivolous and respectful questions in a timely manner.
Completing Issues
It is good practice to leave comments listing any additional steps you took to verify the accuracy of the data on the Issue. Before closing the Issue, please also paste the URL of the changeset on OSM.
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