[2016-03-25]Venezuelan Government Launches Anti-Bitcoin Campaign

[resources]

The state-owned public television network of Venezuela has launched an anti-Bitcoin campaign. In a recent article published on their website, ‘Corporación Venezolana de Televisión’ claims that the bitcoin is “the ideal currency of ‘the dark side of the internet’, a kind of tax haven for drug dealers, rapists or any criminal”.

‘Corporación Venezolana de Televisión’ is the Spanish for Venezuelan Television Corporation. It is based in Caracas, Venezuela.

‘Tool to evade taxes, launder money and damage the economy’

In a translation of the article from Spanish to English, provided by Reddit user, /u/Avatar-X, the article opens with the very bold statement:

Is it a coincidence that the criminal groups and terrorists of the world are the main activists and defenders of BitcoinCT r:  8?

http://cointelegraph.com/news/venezuelan-government-launches-anti-bitcoin-campaign

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[aso118]

Bitcoin is the currency of rapists? That is a new one - something which I haven't heard of until now.

For Venezuelans, it is not a secret the damage that it has caused to the economy and that it is being pushed and promoted via website like Dollar Today, that it has got an illegal and criminal exchange rate that has caused severe damage to the national economy, causing increased levels of inflation which don’t match normal parameters of economic development

As usual, they are trying to blame the high inflation on external factors rather than the government's mismanagement.

[Raja_MBZ]

Just like I predicted in my previous posts... This could be a problem for Bitcoin, more & more terrorists are expected to rise, and the blame could go on Bitcoin. Governments would think that sending, receiving & storing money anonymously could help terrorists.

[Lucius]

A few days ago faucets from Venezuela have stopped work,now I've got the answer why.Poor country with a monthly salary around 20$ and government who cares only for themselves.And when people attempt to improve their standard of living,government declare them criminals.

[Mike Christ]

Venezuelans don't need bitcoin, the socialist system will provide.

[pawel7777]

Am I the only one who sees such stories as something positive? People in countries like Venezuela are aware that they're being fed with government propaganda and many will do the opposite of whatever the official advise is.

Therefore it's essentially free advertising campaign in the national tv channel. Although people may not be able to legally trade BTC (not sure on that tho) if the Bitcoin awareness and demand is high, they'll easily find a way to bypass any restrictions. 

[Zeke2345]

Bitcoin has always been a good prop for blame. Agree this could push things harder towards a postive change for the South American Countries needing a life line.

[BellaBitBit]

'Damage the economy', I don't think so.  Bitcoin could do nothing but help the economy in Venezuela as well as banking the unbanked.  It won't affect Bitcoin.

[coinzat]

this type of socialists government are trying to keep their control on the country by preventing any way people can profit from. they want their people to remain poor so their time is always occupied  with looking for food and then they will not be able to resist the regime. What a shame !

[Lethn]

Am I the only one who sees such stories as something positive? People in countries like Venezuela are aware that they're being fed with government propaganda and many will do the opposite of whatever the official advise is.

Therefore it's essentially free advertising campaign in the national tv channel. Although people may not be able to legally trade BTC (not sure on that tho) if the Bitcoin awareness and demand is high, they'll easily find a way to bypass any restrictions. 

As Venezuelan citizens learn about Bitcoin, I would expect there to be a lot of black market dealing going on where they sell their Bitcoin for local currency or vice versa and start trading with each other in secret, this is exactly the type of thing that Bitcoin is very good at, the only restrictions they'd have to deal with generally are the banking services. In which case in a situation like Venezula the citizens might choose to abandon the paper currency altogether and just use Bitcoin because it works and doesn't lose value so easily.

[aso118]

Am I the only one who sees such stories as something positive? People in countries like Venezuela are aware that they're being fed with government propaganda and many will do the opposite of whatever the official advise is.

Therefore it's essentially free advertising campaign in the national tv channel. Although people may not be able to legally trade BTC (not sure on that tho) if the Bitcoin awareness and demand is high, they'll easily find a way to bypass any restrictions. 

As Venezuelan citizens learn about Bitcoin, I would expect there to be a lot of black market dealing going on where they sell their Bitcoin for local currency or vice versa and start trading with each other in secret, this is exactly the type of thing that Bitcoin is very good at, the only restrictions they'd have to deal with generally are the banking services. In which case in a situation like Venezula the citizens might choose to abandon the paper currency altogether and just use Bitcoin because it works and doesn't lose value so easily.

The citizens already loathe their currency. They will take dollars anyday. Bitcoin might be gaining in prominence, but I suspect it will be a very small part of the overall black market for foreign currency.

[1Referee]

It's a simple thing that you see everywhere; Things that can make a change for the good in the world get stepped on and crushed like it is an insect.

Bitcoin is such a thing. It can give hundreds of millions of people that can't get a bank account a Bitcoin address without asking a single question. They can manage their own money. They just need an internet connection and a smartphone that can get apps installed.

Governments don't want you to get independent, they don't want you to have success, they want to have full control over your life. Poverty is just an aspect of the world that allows wealthy countries to get things produced for a few pennies. It's also a form for power. Look at the continent Africa for example, last 10-20 years there is more money being collected than ever, and it doesn't even make a change. The money doesn't go to places where it is needed the most. Poor people must stay poor.

[RealBitcoin]

guy check out this:

https://www.google.com/trends/explore#q=bitcoin&geo=VE&cmpt=q&tz=Etc%2FGMT


Bitcoin is booming in Venezuela.

[LiteCoinGuy]

Wonder why? Look:



https://forum.bitcoin.com/post19052.html#p19052

[Kingno.1]

In my view this is a wrong decision. Fiat is also used for dark purposes.
But the government do not ban fiat.Governments are terrified that Bitcoin will devalue or simply replace there national currency, so they will say anything and do anything to prevent the spread of bitcoin.

[enhu]

The more they try to destroy bitcoin or cryptocurrencies in general, they actually make it stronger. People just have the tendencies to actually go into it more.
And seeing Venezuela is part of south America, its just somehow like Mexico 

In my view this is a wrong decision. Fiat is also used for dark purposes.
But the government do not ban fiat.Governments are terrified that Bitcoin will devalue or simply replace there national currency, so they will say anything and do anything to prevent the spread of bitcoin.

Not that btc will devalue their fiat but they could use it to launder.

[asidamani]

The people in that country are ripped off by the high inflation. If they use bitcoin, there will not be such problem.

[eyeknock]

So they are into the "fight" step against bitcoin?, this is always the same history again and again. Is so sad to see that there is some governments into that "step", let them do whatever they want, people are not as stupid as they are thinking, i hope...

[Zeke2345]

So they are into the "fight" step against bitcoin?, this is always the same history again and again. Is so sad to see that there is some governments into that "step", let them do whatever they want, people are not as stupid as they are thinking, i hope...

Its a old thinking that is running its course,a new day with more clarity will approach as the people demand change.
Eventually it will trickle into these Countries holding siege to people that just want to live a life. The people at the top are going to start showing their true colors and it will be judgement day.
The tyranny is going to crash the system is no longer in lock step. Its obvious that things need to change and the resistance is rising up to meet the challenge. Scifi enough for you?

[RealBitcoin]

Marxists are the enemy of bitcoin.