[2014-07-10] Bitcoin Foundation Hires Lobbying Firm

[patricktim]

http://online.wsj.com/articles/bitcoin-foundation-hires-lobbying-firm-1404918261

Backers of the virtual currency bitcoin are beefing up their Washington presence as they seek to shape government oversight of the fledgling payment system.

The effort has been building since a number of federal agencies began examining bitcoin last year, but reached a milestone on Wednesday when the Bitcoin Foundation, the top trade organization for the new technology, said it had retained a lobbying firm for the first time.

[Swordsoffreedom]

Yep I wonder if they will be able to build up that goodwill they said they will.

The lobbyists' role will be to build "a reservoir of goodwill that we can deploy when we need to avert a crisis," said Jim Harper, global policy counsel for the foundation, on a call with reporters Wednesday. "The best work will head off problems before they become interesting to all of you."

Alternate Source
http://techcrunch.com/2014/07/09/bitcoin-foundation-hires-lobbying-group-to-take-the-cryptocurrency-to-washington/

[The00Dustin]

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=209602.0
Is hiring a lobbyist different than retaining a lobbying firm, or did it actually take 14 months for them to do this after announcing they would?

[gbooz]

This is a clever move. The BTC legal framework is under development - it is important to have a strong voice in political debates.

[Ron~Popeil]

Are they going to be lobbying on behalf of bit coin or their own new coin? The fact that it is even a question is troubling.

[PatMan]

The Bitcoin Foundation no longer serves the community & is slowly being taken over by banksters, lobbyists & politicians looking to make a buck. They are selling us out without communicating with anyone, as well as letting known criminals with shady pasts (including fraud) join their elite little group.

No wonder Andreas Antonopoulos has joined the other good people with morals and walked out of the Foundation. Bitcoin does not need the foundation - especially one that is "owned" by criminals.

[Bit_Happy]

The Bitcoin Foundation no longer serves the community & is slowly being taken over by banksters, lobbyists & politicians looking to make a buck. They are selling us out without communicating with anyone, as well as letting known criminals with shady pasts (including fraud) join their elite little group.

No wonder Andreas Antonopoulos has joined the other good people with morals and walked out of the Foundation. Bitcoin does not need the foundation - especially one that is "owned" by criminals.

Sadly the slow takeover seems to be almost complete.
Now they go off to DC to help write the laws and regulations about Bitcoin?
Thank goodness the USA is a free country. 

[PatMan]

Agreed. What is it with the NSofA & it's obsession with regulating everything that exists? Do they think that China, EU, Russia, Scandinavia etc will take any notice whatsoever of their silly rules & regulations? Bitcoin, like the internet, does not recognise borders - it is a global currency that can't be regulated or controlled. All this will do is force any Bitcoin business abroad where they will flourish at the NSofA's expense, leaving the NSofA floundering in the dark ages. Mass surveillance states have always been decades behind the rest of the world, always have been, always will be.

They gotta roll with it, or get left behind.

[gbooz]

Back to the topic. Actually a good question is if the Bitcoin ecosystem needs the Foundation or may be any other, less formal and more democratic association or foundation? What do you think?

[PatMan]

Bitcoin does not need the foundation - especially one that is "owned" by criminals.

[PolarPoint]

I am going to be objective on this...

Hiring a lobbying firm is a good thing, right? It will try to win over more support on capitol hill and may be give some assurance to politicians that bitcoin more than money laundering and black market. I know it is only "marketing" work, at least it is good to know someone is on it.

[IYFTech]

The Bitcoin Foundation no longer serves the community & is slowly being taken over by banksters, lobbyists & politicians looking to make a buck. They are selling us out without communicating with anyone, as well as letting known criminals with shady pasts (including fraud) join their elite little group.

No wonder Andreas Antonopoulos has joined the other good people with morals and walked out of the Foundation. Bitcoin does not need the foundation - especially one that is "owned" by criminals.

+1

Lets not forget the sex case in there too eh?