What do people who rule countries think of bitcoin 2013?

[fromheten]

I know some governments have taken note on what we are doing, but there has not been any ban or moves against bitcoin, yet. What would happen if, say, a rich western European country decided to make bitcoin illegal? What would happen with our trust in the bitcoin?

Do you know (not speculate) any people in government, and what they think of it?

[cliffhanger]

I don't think anyone here, even if they knew, would admit it.

I can tell you for sure though that no government will ever declare Bitcoin illegal. It's too dangerous, too ineffective and it exposes fear. What's gonna happen instead is that they are going to attack everything significant that is Bitcoin-related. The first and most obvious aim are Bitcoin exchanges (this is already happening).

Don't for a minute think that any government would appreciate the idea of Bitcoin.

[Lethn]

There has been some movement but I'm betting they're waiting for their 'right' moment to go after Bitcoin, the thing is though, I think though in terms of keeping the thing online it's going to be like Bittorrent, they may take down a few places and arrest one or two of us but in the end we'll be way too clever for them.

[fromheten]

I don't think anyone here, even if they knew, would admit it.

I can tell you for sure though that no government will ever declare Bitcoin illegal. It's too dangerous, too ineffective and it exposes fear. What's gonna happen instead is that they are going to attack everything significant that is Bitcoin-related. The first and most obvious aim are Bitcoin exchanges (this is already happening).

Don't for a minute think that any government would appreciate the idea of Bitcoin.

They could label it as a tool used to fund illegal activities and terrorism (and they would not be wrong). Even if they technically can't stop it, they can make people lose trust in it and therefore make it into something only a small niche are using.

[cliffhanger]

They could label it as a tool used to fund illegal activities and terrorism (and they would not be wrong). Even if they technically can't stop it, they can make people lose trust in it and therefore make it into something only a small niche are using.

Not likely. It would be way too obvious that fiat currencies are used for the same things quite successfully.

[proatlon]

Bitcoin is threatening to the existing power structure. I doubt there are many fans in the global elite.

[kodo]

Bitcoin is a threat to all government currencies.