Bitcoin lobby group

[bitcool]

Many people have talked about the potential threat from US or other government, initiating hostile actions against bitcoin community, I believe the threat is real.

I know, libertarians hate government, abhor lobbying. I am not expecting them to go to Washington and do lobbying to support Bitcoin. However there are many people with more mundane and business oriented goals in the community, I am sure they are willing to do their share to protect their interest.

If Bitcoin community organize, be proactive and reach out, maybe some legislative breathing room can be left when they decide to take action, if conflict with the state sponsored violent body (police, court) can be avoided or delayed, why not? On the other hand, if we don't try, bitcoin is just a sitting duck waiting for them to strike.

There clearly are (or will be) beneficiaries from the wide adoption of Bitcoin ecosystem: hardware, software, utility, online retail industries are a few examples. On the opposing side are big banks who directly receive money from the Fed, welfare and other easy money recipients, these are powerful groups.

As a starter, someone should ask the CEOs of Intel or AMD on their views of Bitcoin.

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[grue]

don't we need $$$ for lobbying?

[Vandroiy]

Don't forget early adopters, they would gain a lot if Bitcoin reaches critical mass.

Yea, a Bitcoin lobby would be awesome. If some large company is able to use its potential (*cough* ANDROID MARKET PAYMENT SYSTEM ), Bitcoin might reach a good market size in no time.

[FreeMoney]

They'll probably make write down the same stuff whether we take them out to dinner or not.

Just ignore their scribblings.

[DarkLinkXXXX]

On the opposing side are big banks who directly receive money from the Fed, welfare and other easy money recipients, these are powerful groups.

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Having banks adopt bitcoin is not that hard. They just shouldn't expect any bitcoin bailouts from the government.
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[zyb]

Hi,

I think we really need a good lobby and need to do some professional work in this direction. In Germany, bitcoin was a hot topic this week in some mainstream media. First, the articles in the press where rather positive. Then there was one press release in which they warned the public from using bitcoins, demanded instant ban of bitcoin transactions, supported by obviously wrong claims. This warning was picked up by the press immediately, which is kinda sad, but expected.

If we had a lobby and some kind of PR office, we could release an official statement in response. So, we're trying to organize ourselves in Germany in order to start some lobby work. So, if you're doing something similar in the US or elsewhere, I'd suggest that we share ideas and strategies in order to be more effective.

zyb

[prattner]

"First, the articles in the press where rather positive. Then there was one press release in which they warned the public from using bitcoins, demanded instant ban of bitcoin transactions, supported by obviously wrong claims. This warning was picked up by the press immediately, which is kinda sad, but expected."

That's the first twitch of a negative response from the press.  The press will be much more enemy than friend to bitcoin once bitcoin becomes famous.

Now, there ARE friends in politics who see the promise Bitcoin represents, and who will support it.  Problem is, they're usually in the minority.  I would imagine the Cato institute and Reason magazine are very sympathetic.  Expect the New York Times to hate it.

[cloud9]

Can't Bitcoin just be banned if it is anonymous?  Which it is not? - are there not a public transparent blockchain representing each and every transaction ever made?  A bona fide user can easily prove where he got his bitcoins from through the blockchain.

Can't Bitcoin just be banned if it is a virtual currency?  Which it is not? - is it not the right to a digital cryptographic key certificate of high security value backed by a high capital intensive network of computers?  (Not a government's central bank).  And of course these unique non-duplicatable rights, like most other rights should be tradeable on the free market.

Can't Bitcoin just be banned if it is inherently allowing bitcoin laundering?  Which it is not? - Someone will have to engage in bitcoin laundering with a service provider offering that kind of service - it is not an inherent feature of bitcoin.  Bitcoin laundering is illegal, just like cash laundering.

[spectacular]

Bitcoin is pseudo anonymous by nature, to actually give a point of contact that the governments of the world can focus on is a recipe for retaliation. Bitcoin's best advertisement is by word of mouth, it's best lobbying efforts is it's adoption. I sincerely believe Btcoin will only win the lobbyist position by adoption. There are just too many rich people with a vested interest in the existing system(s) to oppose any valid lobbying effort.

[GideonGono]

Bitcoin is pseudo anonymous by nature, to actually give a point of contact that the governments of the world can focus on is a recipe for retaliation. Bitcoin's best advertisement is by word of mouth, it's best lobbying efforts is it's adoption. I sincerely believe Btcoin will only win the lobbyist position by adoption. There are just too many rich people with a vested interest in the existing system(s) to oppose any valid lobbying effort.

But lobbying would help with adoption. Of course we may not win the propaganda war outright but with a few key victories in a few key areas it will not matter what the big bankers and big business think. If a significant chunk of Facebooks' 700 million users, for example, start using BTC then any law in any country will be worthless because of the global nature of social networks. Hell, myspace needs something to catch up to Facebook. And Fb has market share to protect else Orkut or someone else will do it. These people will only consider this if there is something positive being said about Bitcoin and there is some political backing.

I think we should play the propaganda game just like they do. Talk up the positive and down play any "negatives" like laundering and drugs. We need to take advantage of the populism going on right now. Say things like, "If bitcoin were the currency it would make regulation of greedy business easy because anyone can see the btc transaction log." Emphasize how it makes transactions and ecommerce cheaper. I know some people are doing this now but it wouldn't hurt to have a well oiled propaganda machine to pre-empt what will come from govt.

[Nelkel007]

Bitcion is here to stay.
Crypto currency is the future

[franky1]

devs and big corps in bitcoin dont want bitcoin to be 'critical mass' they want their offchain services to be critical mass.

over the last 5 years many of the devs and big corps have already done the lobbying. and right now they are getting what they want.

even starbucks is getting in on starting up some offchain services of bitcoin vaults(bank2.0) and offchain trading

bitcoin will never replace a fiat. it will always work as a side option beside and away from fiat. like gold will never become a fiat again.

[Gyfts]

A special interest Bitcoin group...hmm. Interesting.

Who are the big bitcoin players that are hammered by U.S. regulation? Is Bitcoin even heavily regulated enough?

All I can think of are companies like Bitpay/coinbase and what would the lobby for? To make Bitcoin tax free 

[squatz1]

Bitcion is here to stay.
Crypto currency is the future

While I'm not really a fan of gravedigging this thread, it does work in terms of continuing the conversation about this.

A special interest Bitcoin group...hmm. Interesting.

Who are the big bitcoin players that are hammered by U.S. regulation? Is Bitcoin even heavily regulated enough?

All I can think of are companies like Bitpay/coinbase and what would the lobby for? To make Bitcoin tax free 

People that would lobby for Bitcoin would probably include the exchanges, mining organizations, investors who want to have like kind exchanges and some leniency when it comes to going from BTC --> Stablecoin --> Altcoin --> Bitcoin, maybe some companies like BlockFi / Holdnaut to allow for better tax issues relating to interest gained on BTC.

Just some thoughts.

Lobbying groups are around for everything. Probably would be best to try to start on the state level to fix up some of the worst regulatory issue (See: BitLicense in NY)

[Gyfts]

Bitcion is here to stay.
Crypto currency is the future

While I'm not really a fan of gravedigging this thread, it does work in terms of continuing the conversation about this.

A special interest Bitcoin group...hmm. Interesting.

Who are the big bitcoin players that are hammered by U.S. regulation? Is Bitcoin even heavily regulated enough?

All I can think of are companies like Bitpay/coinbase and what would the lobby for? To make Bitcoin tax free 

People that would lobby for Bitcoin would probably include the exchanges, mining organizations, investors who want to have like kind exchanges and some leniency when it comes to going from BTC --> Stablecoin --> Altcoin --> Bitcoin, maybe some companies like BlockFi / Holdnaut to allow for better tax issues relating to interest gained on BTC.

Just some thoughts.

Lobbying groups are around for everything. Probably would be best to try to start on the state level to fix up some of the worst regulatory issue (See: BitLicense in NY)

I see the exchanges possibly dabbling into lobbying but I wonder what mining organizations have the funds to pay for lobbying.

Complete guess and I could be totally wrong, but the major financial institutions seems to be against Bitcoin and of course, the financial institutions have damn near unlimited lobbying power.