If using cryptocurrencies become a crime, will you be a criminal?

[tvbcof]

It's worth note that cryptocurrencies (and cryptography itself) have drifeted in and out of legality in many countries over the years so one should stipulate in which country one is talking about.  I'm talking about the U.S. since I'm a citizen of that country

In fact it does not sound plausible. But even so law-abiding citizen, and if that happens then I will stick to the law.

It seemed eminently plausible to me but...it would be damn difficult to justify since the government themselves auctioned off coins from the Silk Road haul.  It suprised and delighted me that they did so for this reason.

One of the driving forces behind my timings on taking a Bitcoin position back in 2011 was that I anticipated it becoming illegal to do so.  I mis-estimated about this.  I don't get everything right.

The positive treatment that Bitcoin received in the media and even in the judicial system (if one analyzed clearly) was a bit of a surprise to me and I forged a set of plausible explanations.  One of these was that Bitcoin is in fact a marvelously honey-pot to attract various kinds of people and put them in uncomfortable positions.  That has not (yet) happened to me, but I have been somewhat paranoid about it and have bent over backwards to keep my nose clean.

[Pab]

No,that who will set up that kind of legislation will be criminalist
Can you imagine.Warner Music has all rights to song Happy Birthday To You
if you post your Birthday party with that song ,thay can ask you tube to remove or thay will tell you to pay them
people are free,that is human rights

[Daniel91]

I don't think so.
If you invest your own time and money in something that has not been regulated in most countries, it can not be equated with crime.
Could I be wrong about doing something that my government does not know and has no legislation for it?
Bitcoin itself is not good or bad, nor any other currency in the world, but the purpose of using that currency may be good or bad, but that's another story.

[SebastianJu]

If having money becomes a crime, then unfortunately there won't be enough prisons for everyone guilty of committing such a crime.

It wouldn't be a problem for governments. I mean it's the same with copyright infringements. They won't put you in jail but allow lawyers to create costs for you. And surely it will make bitcoin be worthless and it's usecases very limited. I mean a currency that can't be accepted is a currency that will die. A currency must be able to flow.

And it would not be a big wonder if that happens. Goverments never liked it when alternate currencies arose. Actually i'm pretty surprised how cool they act with bitcoin. That was not the case in the past with alternate currencies.

[SebastianJu]

I don't think that using cryptocurrencies will ever become a crime, especially when all of the banks around the world are hiring blockchain experts and when all of the banks around the world are highly praising the blockchain technology!

So don't worry and enjoy using your cryptos, soon enough everybody will be doing it around you. Just give ut some time!

This exactly. Bitcoin found some mighty friends with the organisations bitcoin started to make them obsolete. They have a big lobby.

Though one could ask if that would make bitcoin safe. The banks seems to be only interested in the blockchain technique.

If you can't win then adapt what your foe is doing...

[coinzat]

I read before that it is already illegal in some countries
If it become illegal in my country I will continue using it as long as I can keep my anonymity

[vervolioman]

If it is made illegal in my country and becomes a crime then I will be a proud criminal for potential freedom.

On another note I would not speak about it to people I never trusted from that point and would learn to cover my tracks well for obvious reasons.

[Mickeyb]

I don't think that using cryptocurrencies will ever become a crime, especially when all of the banks around the world are hiring blockchain experts and when all of the banks around the world are highly praising the blockchain technology!

So don't worry and enjoy using your cryptos, soon enough everybody will be doing it around you. Just give ut some time!

This exactly. Bitcoin found some mighty friends with the organisations bitcoin started to make them obsolete. They have a big lobby.

Though one could ask if that would make bitcoin safe. The banks seems to be only interested in the blockchain technique.

If you can't win then adapt what your foe is doing...

Let them create their own centralized Blockchain's. Let them teach all the people how to use wallets and send transactions. Let them build all of the infrastructure for us. And then in the end, when their centralized way shows disadvantages and this will happen, we will let users choose between real blockchain and their fake blockchain.

I already know what masses will choose.

[SebastianJu]

Cryptos could be criminalized using the anti child porn laws.
In this case just the most incautious peoples will be caught&convicted like in some other crimes.

I think that argument would not be very convincing since everyone can buy that stuff with fiat cash too. Though of course we saw stranger things happen in the US

Well, let's hope the friendly environment that we have now will remain.

[gentlemand]

I enjoy a bit of casual law breaking but I think it would become pretty useless to me under those circumstances. I don't do drugs, launder money or deal in arms or small children. I just use it to buy the odd blu ray or summat.

[Triple]

The Bitcoin community will to be too big to imprison everyone. Sure they might catch a few to scare some people but they cannot stop the whole idea.

[SebastianJu]

No,that who will set up that kind of legislation will be criminalist
Can you imagine.Warner Music has all rights to song Happy Birthday To You
if you post your Birthday party with that song ,thay can ask you tube to remove or thay will tell you to pay them
people are free,that is human rights

Didn't they sue a kindergarten too for singing that song? The american copyright, or let's say the copyright generally, is very flawed.

Thanks god they wont succeed. The amount of filehosters and streaming sites act like hydras. They cut one head and two new grow.

[SebastianJu]

I don't think that using cryptocurrencies will ever become a crime, especially when all of the banks around the world are hiring blockchain experts and when all of the banks around the world are highly praising the blockchain technology!

So don't worry and enjoy using your cryptos, soon enough everybody will be doing it around you. Just give ut some time!

This exactly. Bitcoin found some mighty friends with the organisations bitcoin started to make them obsolete. They have a big lobby.

Though one could ask if that would make bitcoin safe. The banks seems to be only interested in the blockchain technique.

If you can't win then adapt what your foe is doing...

Let them create their own centralized Blockchain's. Let them teach all the people how to use wallets and send transactions. Let them build all of the infrastructure for us. And then in the end, when their centralized way shows disadvantages and this will happen, we will let users choose between real blockchain and their fake blockchain.

I already know what masses will choose.

Yes, you are right. I somehow pity the banks. It's like they can't win in this game. Though, because of that, i would have awaited them lobbying against bitcoin before the government. Like they always do when they don't want to have something. That this didn't happen is a bit suspicious to me.

[bitbaby]

Right now where I am it's not really legal or illegal to use Crypto-Currency and I really don't think that it will become a crime to deal in them in near future but if it does happens then obviously people who deal with them would be considered criminals and therefore I would have to stop dealing in it.

The things that are happening with it might put some restrictions on it, for instance, it has become the favorite currencies for hackers to demand ransom, for example the recent Ashley Madison thing going on and if it creates too much trouble for the law makers and if they don't see any way to control criminals from doing these things then in the end they might just make it illegal but it's not really the fault of Bitcoin, it's the people, they'll ruin anything for their personal gain. And I think there are some people (Bitcoin haters) who are doing this stuff intentionally to harm Bitcoin's reputation.

[coinplus]

Unless using internet become a crime activity, bitcoin not be a crime. No government can declare using internet as illegal. They can shut down some sites access. But bitcoin is beyond their access. Even they declare as illegal, no one can stop people using bitcoins.

[pjsonowal]

So If using cryptocurrencies become a crime, will you be a criminal AND use it?


Note: Before you reply remember  CIA/FBI/NSA/South-park/...  

Dude wat are you asking!!!... Having cryptocurrencies. Will never be. A crime.... I dont think that this was a valid discussion point...

[mercistheman]

Too many big players with deep pockets (re expensive Lawyers)... IBM, Microsoft, Dell, VCs willing to push back on anti BTC regs.

While it may be restricted in some regions their governments will eventually come around to losing a competitive advantage.

[Falconer]

Well if using cryptocurrency is a crime in my country, I have to move to other country that legalizing bitcoin, rather than be a criminal and be jailed because of that. Its useless to have bitcoin if you are in prison, I mean, you cant do anything with your bitcoin there. So the best way is moving to other country.

[Holliday]

No, I wouldn't be a criminal, the supposed authorities who created such unjust laws would be the criminals.

[Kaneki]

I will never feel like a criminal just because using cryptocurrencies, unless I use it to commit a crime