Does anyone know of this bill is making progress, or if it's likely to die? I researched a bit but can't gauge whether it will happen or not.
Regarding the Bill, I hope it dies .... it was put on hold about 5 years ago but S13 of S1241 need to be wiped once and for all. I have put this page together:
http://www.abolishthebitlicense.com/advocacy.phpI actually thought the Foundation was defunct, so indeed it's surprising to hear anything from them. The bit about investigating the FBI is an adorable joke; of course they won't be investigated.
No, the foundation is not dead ! All the trade organizations would like it to be dead ... like Coincenter.
In July 2017, in San Diego, an organization called the Uniform Law Commission voted to ratify a new version of the NY Bitlicense. All the information is here. When the Bitcoin Foundation learned about the ULC, it set a letter that caused the commissioners to pause.
http://uniformlaws.org/Committee.aspx?title=Regulation%20of%20Virtual%20Currency%20Businesses%20ActNow, the Bitcoin Foundation understood that the fight on the Bitlicense in New York was not dead.
http://www.itpro.co.uk/strategy/28261/bitcoin-news-bitcoin-foundation-readies-legal-team-for-us-regulation-battleAt the same time, there is another Bitcoiner, Morpheus Titania in Jail. The whole piece on asking the FBI is for him.
https://www.freedomsphoenix.com/Article/216911-2017-04-25-update-on-morhpeus-titania-aka-thomas-costanzo-arrested-4-20.htmWe created a Facebook Page for him:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/FreeMorpheusTitaniaThis is another guy arrested:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pX7IQ6UOVM (Randall Lord) but after pleading realizes his mistake.
If you want to read the documents:
This is a transcript on the hearing. It's page 8 Line 6. There should have been a major objection here.
http://www.article78againstnydfs.com/docs/PetixCase/2015-cr-00227/55-Transcript/12913785335.pdfBefore that hearing, there was this report made by a judge where he answers the question:
Are Bitcoins “Money” or “Funds” Under Section 1960? Defining the terms “money” and “funds” requires using a few principles of statutory interpretation. (Page 7)
http://www.article78againstnydfs.com/docs/PetixCase/2015-cr-00227/36-Report/document.pdfThe Bitcoin Foundation in the long ass letter says it:
http://www.article78againstnydfs.com/docs/BitcoinFoundation/LetterFromClaasenToCommittees-08-29-2017-FULLPACKAGE.pdf"Congress should investigate the DOJ’s policy of prosecuting individuals in certain Bitcoin-related transactions under 18 U.S.C. § 1960" (Page 2)
This is explained in detail in Page 10 of the document.
The DOJ has misapplied 18 U.S.C. § 1960 to prosecute individuals involved in exchanging Bitcoin for cash or other financial instruments.The bitcoin foundation stopped joking.
I did wake them up in Miami back in January.