If Robert S. Mueller, Director of the FBI, and Secretary Janet Napolitano of Homeland Security made a statement claiming that they had no problem with Bitcoin specifically as a system then you could be excited. The term "Virtual Currency" is too generic. Having some little fudwinkle under secretary nobody claiming that they have no problem with a generic concept and supporting advances in consumer technology doesn't say much about the way the US government is really going to react.
Alcohol was illegal in the U.S., then it was illegal, then the people went apeshit and it became legal again. The way to get support for anything in the U.S. is to get overwhelming support of the people. It can be really difficult to do like the civil rights struggle or gay marriage but it can be done. The last thing you want to focus on is what some two faced double speak politician says about anything because his opinion and actions will spin around like a leaf in a river.
Come on. This is not a court of law, it was a press conference.
BTC is THE virtual currency. It is clear to anyone these days. Let's call a spade a spade here.
The ECB published this:
http://www.ecb.europa.eu/pub/pdf/other/virtualcurrencyschemes201210en.pdfIt is a paper on Virtual Currencies that is 53 pages long.
BTC is mentioned 185 times. Can we accept the The European Central Bank and the American FED are kind of seeing eye to eye? I mean is it fair to think they are mostly talking about Bitcoin? Or maybe they are talking about Amazon Coins?
Maybe an alternative Cryptocurrency? Litecoin, PPCoin,
?
Interesting anecdotal story: I met with an employer today regarding some work in a bank (she is not in that industry) and we got to talking about banking as I had some stock market trading experience on my resume. She goes on to ask me if I am still in the stock market. I said, "No, not really but I am am very interested in crypto currencies". I didn't want to say Bitcoin! eheheh. I wanted to see her reaction to that word. She is clearly not wise in the world of finance or internet. Anyway, she says "Oh, like Bitcoin?" and I just started laughing. Also was funny in that the moment I got a call from her last week or so, I was on my Computer and mentioned to her the Japanese Nikkei is down 7%. Well, meeting her today, when we got to talking about banking, I noted to her that it was down again by 5%". During my interview I spoke half about Bitcoin - because she was interested. She ended up maybe wanting to buy some. I have talked about Bitcoin to a few customers and one has already bought and a few others are thinking about it. Spread the word...
I then showed her what I carry around in my wallet, which I will be sure to use at the bank I will be doing some PT work at. It will make for great conversation, I promise - Get yourself one (They are also great gifts given along side a BTC paper wallet):
