Is Crypto-Currency Illegal? Why Or Why Not?
Cryptocurrency is still a very new technology, and its legality is still being debated. If you are finding a way to mine Bitcoin, then use the most reliable and ideal trading platforms. Some countries have made the use of virtual currency illegal, while others have not yet issued a formal ruling on crypto-currency.
Cryptocurrency is not illegal. It is a safe, secure, and easy way to transact business. The cryptocurrency market is so volatile that some people may use it for illegal activities. This does not mean that crypto-currency itself is illegal.
Some countries have made the use of virtual currency illegal.
In some countries, the use of virtual currency is illegal. China, Bangladesh, and Vietnam have outright banned crypto-currency. India has also made it illegal to mine crypto-currencies but not for citizens to use them for payment.
These bans are not limited to Asian countries. The US, Canada, Australia, and the UK have yet to make clear whether using or trading in crypto-currency is legal or not. However, these countries have stated that they will regulate virtual currencies if they consider them related to money services businesses (MSBs).
But some countries still have not formally ruled on digital currencies’ legal status, including Australia, Canada, Denmark, Japan, and the United Kingdom.
In Germany and Switzerland, it is clear that they do not consider crypto-currency to be legal tender. In the Netherlands, a Dutch court has deemed cryptocurrency as money.
Governments and other bodies can make crypto-currency illegal as a payment method but not illegal as a currency or store of value. This means you can be fined for using crypto in your country, but the government cannot declare it illegal and seize your assets.
Digital currency is used for criminal activity because of the anonymity, ease of use, and difficulty in tracing transactions. Transactions are often conducted through a computer or mobile device with no physical presence needed. This means there is no paper trail, and you don’t need to use banks or credit cards.
In addition, you can transfer digital currencies between buyers and sellers without going through any bank or financial institution, making them an ideal medium for money laundering activities.
If you think about it, the reason that governments want to track crypto transactions is the same reason they want to track cash transactions. They don’t want their people moving money around without their knowledge or consent because that might mean that those people are doing something illegal or suspicious. How else would a government know if its citizens were doing something untoward?
By tracking and collecting data on its citizens’ money movements, a government can better comply with international sanctions and prevent terrorist financing activities within its borders.
Some countries want to limit the use of virtual currency because they want more control over the movement of their people’s money overseas. They think that their citizens are moving their money out of the country and into other currencies to avoid paying taxes. These governments want to keep tabs on any new financial system they can’t regulate or shut down easily.
So, the question remains: is cryptocurrency illegal? While many countries have not issued a formal ruling on digital currencies’ legal status, some jurisdictions are taking steps to ban them outright. China has banned cryptocurrency outright, as did Bangladesh and Vietnam. India has warned that they may soon do so as well. Other countries have not issued a formal ruling on the legal status of digital currencies but have expressed concern over their use and popularity among investors.
There is no consensus as yet on whether or not crypto should be legal in all countries, but there’s no doubt that governments will try and keep tabs on any new financial system they can’t regulate or shut down quickly. The United States has been trying its hardest to regulate cryptocurrency, but plenty of exchanges operate within America’s borders without having licenses.
Conclusion
Crypto-currency is a new and exciting way to transact, but it’s still in its early stages. It will be interesting to see how governments respond as technology develops and becomes more widely used.