Thats a debating issue of the whole world and many officials are already on it. There are many rumours and official news coming all over the internet which says that US officials really hate the bitcoin and want to regulate it in strictest way possible.
To go through your question, I read an article on the internet as quoted here :
According to this Policy maker around the world actually debating on how to regulate the bitcoin or whether they should really regulate it or not!
On the topic, Christine Lagarde's
(Head of the International Monetary Fund), had very spicy words and thoughts on this matter who thinks that if they do not regulate the bitcoin in the time then there could be increased activity in the terrorism and money laundering itself.
The exact words said this,
"The anonymity and lack of transparency and the way in which it conceals and protects money laundering and financing of terrorism, is just unacceptable. It needs to be taken into account but then there will be innovations coming out of these movements," Lagarde told the Davos forum.
So on this matter we the crypto users can only predict that many big heads and political giants are planning the heavy regulations to be implemented on the bitcoin soon. Its surely not easy thing because the use of the bitcoin and the investments that are locked into the bitcoin are huge and any legal action in sudden way will cause the dramatic effect on the virtual economy as well as on the real economy of each country, due to locking of the funds/fiat that is already invested in the bitcoin and other crypto currency.
I believe this will take a lot of time, and when it comes to global decision then it will take even more time for everyone to come on the same page!