It seems to me that the US authorities understand cryptocurrencies very well, but that such laws are in place to deter people from using Bitcoin as a means of payment
Partly. I would bet that only two or three Reps or Senators could even give you a definition of a cryptocurrency, let alone explain what they are or how they work. But even then, they are quite happy to pass laws or regulations regarding it, not understanding the implications or ramifications of these laws. See, for example, the infrastructure bill which tries to make everyone collect the tax information of everyone else they trade bitcoin with.
Ok, that is quite good then already, but correct if I am wrong, that wasn't always the case was it?
You misunderstand my post. I'm saying that they should at least treat it that way, not that they already do. The tax situation here is a complete mess, with every trade between fiat and crypto or crypto and crypto generating a taxable event.