Russian Bitcoin Users Can Face Jail Time up to 15 years

[BADecker]

Russia is pathetic it's like evolution backwards. They get dumber and dumber. Vladamir Putin is an assclown.

Better lock your doors man.. word travels fast around the globe. 

Yeah. Putin can send his hitmen over here in a minute, and nobody would know.

If Obama wanted to protect America from terrorism, he would arm ALL Americans to the hilt, and train them in how to protect themselves from all terrorists. As it is, what is his real plan?

I wonder if he is worried about Bitcoin throwing a wrench into his operations.

[Morbid]

you guys need to aknowledge the fact that russian central bank is not governed by the russian government, putin's party, elite or any other entity that serves russian people. russian central bank just like in most countries in the world is owned by multinational families and clans who oppose the idea of bitcoin becoming mainstream. putin is big enough now to wait for fiat system to crumble a little for him to sieze control and to start issuing money on state level - just like its supposed to be. dont forget the people who are behind central banks, fed, euro etc are way bigger and few steps higher than any president in the world today.

[tvbcof]

Don't worry people.  If the Western governments crack down on Bitcoin we'll just move to China Russia somewhere else.  So there is no need to harden the solution and consider corp/state sponsored attacks.  Those are just whacked out 'conspiracy theories.'  Having a pretty UI is much more important.  If we can bloat the blockchain enough then maybe it will get to big to attack!

[BADecker]

you guys need to aknowledge the fact that russian central bank is not governed by the russian government, putin's party, elite or any other entity that serves russian people. russian central bank just like in most countries in the world is owned by multinational families and clans who oppose the idea of bitcoin becoming mainstream. putin is big enough now to wait for fiat system to crumble a little for him to sieze control and to start issuing money on state level - just like its supposed to be. dont forget the people who are behind central banks, fed, euro etc are way bigger and few steps higher than any president in the world today.

This is kinda true. Take Hitler for example. He took Germany from being possibly the poorest of industrial nations - a nation that had "lost face" before the world when they lost WWI - to being one of the most powerful in the world. And he did it in just 6 years by kicking the Jews' banking system out.

It took the banking system a long time to recover from the wound that Hitler gave them. If Hitler had been a good guy, if he had not been a bit crazy, killed a whole bunch of innocent people for nothing, he might have become famous and conquered the banking system for real. Of course, we wouldn't have Bitcoin then, because we wouldn't need it.

As it is, the banking system used the United States and Russia to conquer Hitler before he could destroy them. After all, you hear about the holocaust on a regular basis. But you seldom hear about the fact that Stalin might have murdered as many as 10 times more in Russia and surrounding nations than Hitler did. And look at the 55 million of its own citizens the U.S. has killed through abortions!

[QuestionAuthority]

Don't worry people.  If the Western governments crack down on Bitcoin we'll just move to China Russia somewhere else.  So there is no need to harden the solution and consider corp/state sponsored attacks.  Those are just whacked out 'conspiracy theories.'  Having a pretty UI is much more important.  If we can bloat the blockchain enough then maybe it will get to big to attack!

China Russia India USA UK Who's Next? The list of countries we can run to seems to be shrinking. lol

[Trongersoll]

Don't worry people.  If the Western governments crack down on Bitcoin we'll just move to China Russia somewhere else.  So there is no need to harden the solution and consider corp/state sponsored attacks.  Those are just whacked out 'conspiracy theories.'  Having a pretty UI is much more important.  If we can bloat the blockchain enough then maybe it will get to big to attack!

China Russia India USA UK Who's Next? The list of countries we can run to seems to be shrinking. lol

I suppose that there is always the Cayman Islands. heh.

[franky1]

this is the OP sniffing glue and not understanding the context of the article if he believes that bitcoin can land you in prison simply by owning it. ...

No, that's actually exactly the way it's intended to be interpreted:

The anonymously produced “virtual currencies” can be intended by its producers for money laundering and terrorism funding purposes, the Central Bank said in a statement.

This means that Russian digital currency users can become involved in criminal activity simply by using the Bitcoin and its analogues, the regulator said.

This is meant to provide a clear chilling effect for Russians, ie, don't do this, we don't approve - you have been warned.

It is Russia.

ok lets translate it again for you

if you accept bank notes you can become involved in criminal activitiy by handling:
drug money
defrauded money
stolen money
money that eventually ends up in terrorists hands

so does this stop you from accepting bank notes?? no

[XenInvestments]

The anonymously produced “virtual currencies” can be intended by its producers for money laundering and terrorism funding purposes, the Central Bank said in a statement.

This means that Russian digital currency users can become involved in criminal activity simply by using the Bitcoin and its analogues, the regulator said.


http://en.ria.ru/business/20140127/186966541/Russias-Central-Bank-Bitcoin-Users-Can-Face-Jail-Time.html

Of course the banks would issue such a fear-mongering, irrational threat. A last-ditch effort to scare people away from cryptocurrencies.

These are the ragged last gasps of an injured and cornered animal. Time to put it down.

[zeetubes]

"After all, you hear about the holocaust on a regular basis. But you seldom hear about the fact that Stalin might have murdered as many as 10 times more in Russia and surrounding nations than Hitler did."

Most people when asked about the holocaust will quote the 6 million Jews that were killed but Hitler actually had 13 million "untermensch" put to death in total, 6 million of whom were jewish. The other 7 million seem to have been conveniently forgotten.

[Phinnaeus Gage]

Russia’s Central Bank: Bitcoin Users Can Face Jail Time

MOSCOW, January 27 (RIA Novosti) – Russia’s top monetary authority slammed digital currencies Monday, warning that Bitcoin use can lead to criminal charges in the country.

The anonymously produced “virtual currencies” can be intended by its producers for money laundering and terrorism funding purposes, the Central Bank said in a statement.

This means that Russian digital currency users can become involved in criminal activity simply by using the Bitcoin and its analogues, the regulator said.

Digital currencies also lack any backing and are used for financial speculation, which increases risks for users, the Central Bank said.

Moreover, Russian legislation directly prohibits the issuance of surrogate currency, the statement said.

Money laundering is punishable with up to seven years in prison in Russia; funding terrorism – with up to 15 years. Russia’s legislation does not state a punishment for issuing surrogate currency.

http://en.ria.ru/business/20140127/186966541/Russias-Central-Bank-Bitcoin-Users-Can-Face-Jail-Time.html

Russian exchange indefinitely down and not answering their emails and support tickets in 5...4...3...

[tvbcof]

"After all, you hear about the holocaust on a regular basis. But you seldom hear about the fact that Stalin might have murdered as many as 10 times more in Russia and surrounding nations than Hitler did."

Most people when asked about the holocaust will quote the 6 million Jews that were killed but Hitler actually had 13 million "untermensch" put to death in total, 6 million of whom were jewish. The other 7 million seem to have been conveniently forgotten.

I went the better part of my life thinking that Gypsies were Jews in some muddled way most likely associated with the rather, um, 'charged' nature of the curriculum surrounding this matter.

I recently had a Romanian co-worker and learned all about Gypsies.  And not in some namby-pamby politically correct way either!

[zeetubes]

"After all, you hear about the holocaust on a regular basis. But you seldom hear about the fact that Stalin might have murdered as many as 10 times more in Russia and surrounding nations than Hitler did."

Most people when asked about the holocaust will quote the 6 million Jews that were killed but Hitler actually had 13 million "untermensch" put to death in total, 6 million of whom were jewish. The other 7 million seem to have been conveniently forgotten.

I went the better part of my life thinking that Gypsies were Jews in some muddled way most likely associated with the rather, um, 'charged' nature of the curriculum surrounding this matter.

I recently had a Romanian co-worker and learned all about Gypsies.  And not in some namby-pamby politically correct way either!

Yup. I guess the major difference between the gypsies and the jews is that gypsies don't control most of the media and get to write history books. Even though I thought Schindler's List was a great movie, Spielberg had the chance to acknowledge those 7 million but chose not to.

[BTCisthefuture]

I started to look into this and quickly started to realize it seems to just be a case of a journalist/newspaper over exagerating things and coming up with a shock story title to get views.  I havent seen any other articles suggesting anyone would go to jail simply for using bitcoin...only that current finincal crimes would apply to bitcoin as well. 

Doesn't seem to be much "news" here , just a single paper/journalist using shock journalism to get views...and it appears like it worked as this article is getting more views than any of the other articles about russia that point out russia only said if you commit a crime with bitcion it's treated the same as if you commit a crime with fiat.

[Prolifik]

I wish everyone world wide would just say fuck you government we will govern ourselves.

What do we need these crones for anyways? We have the internets!

[dissident]

the "T" word... the most dreaded word in the english language that could indeed kill bitcoin in it's tracks for all intents and purposes.... the US could certainly use "terrorism" as a justification to ban the currency. Better hope that all the seedy people using it are not into that sort of activity...

Those who believe anarchy and self rule would be better than our current system are however... misguided. I believe it would be complete chaos and we'd be back in the dark ages without organizations like the Illuminati and the progression towards cooperation amongst governments globally.  I prefer not having to go to constant war over someone's idiotic ideology as long as I have freedom of speech and can guide my destiny along in a free manner which for the most part I can in the US and many other first world nations....

I can deal without crypto-currencies and go back to platinum and palladium honestly... I won't lose that much sleep if cryptos end up banned, which they might if their users don't police themselves. Could terrorists just use gold? Well they'd have to lug an awful lot of it around and they'd more than likely get their  own people killing each other and stealing the gold.

If anything I planned to get off the computer this year and get out of the house more and these damn currencies put a hamper in that to a degree because they are so... appealing watching them move around in market cap like micro cap stocks.

[btchedge]

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-01-28/russian-bank-halts-all-cash-withdrawals

This may have a little something to do with this...

[QuestionAuthority]

I wish everyone world wide would just say fuck you government we will govern ourselves.

What do we need these crones for anyways? We have the internets!

I'm kind of happy to have roads and fire departments. I'm not sure you would build enough of them if you were in charge. Infrastructure =    No Infrastructure = 

[Realpra]

It's coming; banks and governments are starting to understand and they will regulate harshly, then persecute us all when it fails...

[NanoAkron]

If I hold 1 BTC in my wallet, I can go to prison? I don't think so.
With that attitude, Russia will just stay behind everyone.

It seemingly is behind everyone with their homophobic laws and anti-gay stance. Pathetic behaviour.

What does anti-gay stance have to do with accepting or not btc?

It's a reflection of how far they are from the 21st century.

[Frost000]

I wish everyone world wide would just say fuck you government we will govern ourselves.

What do we need these crones for anyways? We have the internets!

I'm kinda happy you're not in politics!

I agree that a lot of taxes are bogus but to say that governments don't have their place is a bit absurd. Whether or not they function properly is another story... Russia's pretty fucked!