This could be big: US Government considering accepting bitcoin payment

[Pursuer]

Homeland Security's US Citizenship and Immigration is now considering accepting bitcoin payment for US Visa application/payment fees

the documents from USCIS.gov website reads:
"USCIS is currently considering issues involving virtual currency such as Bitcoin." related to "the use of bitcoin to transfer investment funds to the new commercial enterprise".

http://www.coindesk.com/us-officials-weigh-bitcoin-payments-eb-5-visa-program/

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[Viper1]

One question regarding source of funds related to the use of Bitcoin to transfer
investment funds to the new commercial enterprise. USCIS is currently
considering issues involving virtual currency such as Bitcoin. USCIS cannot
provide blanket assurances regarding any particular form of transfer, but we will
continue to evaluate evidence provided by petitioners to determine whether the
relevant statutory and regulatory requirements have been met, including evidence
that the funds invested belong to the petitioner, and were acquired, directly and
indirectly, by lawful means.

Doesn't look all that promising to me.

[HabBear]

Isn't Trump banning immigration? (I'm only partially kidding)

Anyone know of the phrase "follow the money"? I love that it's ringing true with Bitcoin. Governments and corporations and general public can be skeptical...but where there is currency or asset value, people will follow. Quietly at first, and then very very publicly.

I bet a significant motivation for the BTC price run up has been the awareness it received among Wall Street investors through the ETF denial. Wall Street loves to make money and they don't need the SEC to do it!

[davis196]

One question regarding source of funds related to the use of Bitcoin to transfer
investment funds to the new commercial enterprise. USCIS is currently
considering issues involving virtual currency such as Bitcoin. USCIS cannot
provide blanket assurances regarding any particular form of transfer, but we will
continue to evaluate evidence provided by petitioners to determine whether the
relevant statutory and regulatory requirements have been met, including evidence
that the funds invested belong to the petitioner, and were acquired, directly and
indirectly, by lawful means.

Doesn't look all that promising to me.

I don`t see anything about bitcoin adoption.
The USCIS see bitcoin as an issue ,because the ownership of funds can`t be verified.
Dirty money>bitcoin>money laundry...

[Kakmakr]

One possible answer to this is, that they are using this to flag Bitcoin owners. You can expect them to look more closely at you the moment when you reveal that you are a Crypto currency user. You apply for a VISA and you pay for the application with Bitcoin and you are immediately added to "The List"

At this stage, they do not have a way to determine who is and who is not Crypto currency users. ^easy^

[tosmartak]

This doesn't sound any promising or big. Apparently, they are looking for ways to start capturing users of bitcoin and when the time comes, they can easily nab whoever their target is and they want to use this strategy to achieve that.

[Pursuer]

At this stage, they do not have a way to determine who is and who is not Crypto currency users. ^easy^

I don't know what you are talking about
all the exchanges that are accepting fiat are following the KYC AML and all that BS and your bank already knows and tells everyone you have made a deposit to a bitcoin exchange, so they already know you are a bitcoin user.
also exchanges like coinbase (One of the biggest exchanges currently) is working directly with the government, IRS and reports all the transactions that is made through them (I'm only partially kidding).

and these are the ways regular people use, and not-regular people who are using some other methods are not going to pay with bitcoin to go on "the list"

[GetClams.com]

Homeland Security's US Citizenship and Immigration is now considering accepting bitcoin payment for US Visa application/payment fees

the documents from USCIS.gov website reads:
"USCIS is currently considering issues involving virtual currency such as Bitcoin." related to "the use of bitcoin to transfer investment funds to the new commercial enterprise".

http://www.coindesk.com/us-officials-weigh-bitcoin-payments-eb-5-visa-program/

While that is a nice development, I bet this time next year they are still "looking into it". Government types have no incentive to anything.

[gentlemand]

This doesn't sound any promising or big. Apparently, they are looking for ways to start capturing users of bitcoin and when the time comes, they can easily nab whoever their target is and they want to use this strategy to achieve that.

So we're all going to end up in concentration camps? I do enjoy the persecution complex of Bitcoiners. It's very cute but a little heavy on the self importance.

[Hydrogen]

I wonder if Donald Trump has something to do with this.

Trump also said he would consider re-implementing glass steagall to help keep investment bankers over-leveraging on depositors funds under wraps.

Lots of good policies and executive orders coming from Trump.

[Qartada]

This is good.  We can all talk about being added to "the list", but the US government isn't openly targeting Bitcoin users.  Sure, if you're doing something illegal then by all means don't send Bitcoin to the US government.  In most cases though, you're pretty safe.

Especially if you're good at anonymous payments through methods like Shapeshift with Monero, sending through exchanges which don't take documents, mixers, changing addresses etc.

[Yakamoto]

Homeland Security's US Citizenship and Immigration is now considering accepting bitcoin payment for US Visa application/payment fees

the documents from USCIS.gov website reads:
"USCIS is currently considering issues involving virtual currency such as Bitcoin." related to "the use of bitcoin to transfer investment funds to the new commercial enterprise".

http://www.coindesk.com/us-officials-weigh-bitcoin-payments-eb-5-visa-program/

Well, for Visa programs I can see something like that being useful, but I don't know how much success the US government would be able to find elsewhere since there still isn't a huge (and I mean >0.1% of the population) following for Bitcoin within the US's borders. Other countries (like Venezuela) would be able to make use of this, and the US would likely prefer a system like this too.

[MingLee]

Homeland Security's US Citizenship and Immigration is now considering accepting bitcoin payment for US Visa application/payment fees

the documents from USCIS.gov website reads:
"USCIS is currently considering issues involving virtual currency such as Bitcoin." related to "the use of bitcoin to transfer investment funds to the new commercial enterprise".

http://www.coindesk.com/us-officials-weigh-bitcoin-payments-eb-5-visa-program/

Well, if they want to. I don't know where they're going to benefit from a program like this, but if Homeland Security is going to try and make something like this work then I don't know if it's worth trying to make an argument in favor or against something like this.
If they make enough off of the program to justify trying to make some of these things a reality, then who am I to complain?

[QuestionAuthority]

Coindesk is such a bunch of spin doctor bullshit artists. Part of the EB-5 program is qualifying by having a new "commercial enterprise" (opening a business). Homeland Security in concert with the INS is considering not allowing Bitcoin or any cryptocurrency businesses to be used to fulfill the requirement because they are so corrupt and can be used to foster money laundering and other criminal enterprises. Too bad Coindesk isn't a printed newspaper. At least then it would have some value, you could wipe your ass with it.

[Alicia Keys]

Just a small case, not for everything. But for visa application, which means they seem bitcoin is valid and legal payment.

[Wind_FURY]

One possible answer to this is, that they are using this to flag Bitcoin owners. You can expect them to look more closely at you the moment when you reveal that you are a Crypto currency user. You apply for a VISA and you pay for the application with Bitcoin and you are immediately added to "The List"

At this stage, they do not have a way to determine who is and who is not Crypto currency users. ^easy^

Yes it is a trap. The US government is thinking of cunning ways to collect Bitcoin and mark you as a potential enemy of the state at the same time. I cannot see how the OP is getting excited about this. We partially started to become involved in Bitcoin because we do not believe in the government did we not?

[RoommateAgreement]

this may be a start though! i wouldn't get my hopes up but i do believe that after what Japanese did and accepted bitcoin as a legal way of payment many countries have become softer towards bitcoin and a couple of them even are considering doing the same. so it wouldn't be such a strange thing if US finally did that someday too.

[asdalani]

this may be a start though! i wouldn't get my hopes up but i do believe that after what Japanese did and accepted bitcoin as a legal way of payment many countries have become softer towards bitcoin and a couple of them even are considering doing the same. so it wouldn't be such a strange thing if US finally did that someday too.

It's a good start for Bitcoin though the article will not have any influence on the adoption of Bitcoin within the Government. Just because the immigration company accepts Bitcoin it does not mean that the price of Bitcoin will go up as well because they can just change their mind within the last minute.

[RoommateAgreement]

this may be a start though! i wouldn't get my hopes up but i do believe that after what Japanese did and accepted bitcoin as a legal way of payment many countries have become softer towards bitcoin and a couple of them even are considering doing the same. so it wouldn't be such a strange thing if US finally did that someday too.

It's a good start for Bitcoin though the article will not have any influence on the adoption of Bitcoin within the Government. Just because the immigration company accepts Bitcoin it does not mean that the price of Bitcoin will go up as well because they can just change their mind within the last minute.

yeah, i am not saying bitcoin is going to get adopted because of this or i say they may even end up deciding against it.
but the fact that government is thinking about these stuff and "is considering bitcoin as a payment" is a good sign in my opinion.

[elite3000]

One possible answer to this is, that they are using this to flag Bitcoin owners. You can expect them to look more closely at you the moment when you reveal that you are a Crypto currency user. You apply for a VISA and you pay for the application with Bitcoin and you are immediately added to "The List"

At this stage, they do not have a way to determine who is and who is not Crypto currency users. ^easy^

there are several ways to flag Bitcoin owners and users, specially if your have secret service tools in your hand.

this would be utterly needless