BitCoin and money laundering

[Tukotih]

I was just thinking. Doesn't BitCoin allow money laundering?

[kiba]

Yes, but so does dollars.

[ploum]

I've yet to find a laundry that accepts bitcoins 

[Nefario]

Any currency that allows you to conduct any kind of business anonymously or without an identifying record can be used for laundering.

This leaves only electronic cash as recorded by banks that require users to register with several forms of I.D. (think Credit & Debit Cards) as the only currency that can in any way identify money laundering.

Cash(Euro, Pound, USD) all allow laundering more easily than bitcoin as they are more anonymous(cash doesn't have a block chain).

The only way to totally prevent laundering is to have every person prove that they legally obtained every penny they have, and that everything they bought was paid for with legal non laundered money. To an extent that should a police officer or person in authority ask, you must be able to provide a receipt for your item they are asking about (tv, car etc.) and the payslip showing you the money you earned to buy it.

Failing to do so would open you up to having those items and money that you have not proved legal ownership of removed from you. It doesn't happen much but it happens, and is legal (at least in Ireland, the Criminal Assets Bureau).

[caston]

I bet we'll get the blame for a lot of it though. Perhaps though there wouldn't be so much money in breaking the law if the laws were different e.g. there wouldn't be an illegal drug trade if drugs weren't illegal and so on.

[Nefario]

I bet we'll get the blame for a lot of it though. Perhaps though there wouldn't be so much money in breaking the law if the laws were different e.g. there wouldn't be an illegal drug trade if drugs weren't illegal and so on.

Pretty much, a lot of laws have criminalised very normal behaviour, to the extent that there isn't an innocent person living in the world today, there is always some law thats being broken.

For example, a girl was raped on my college campus on Saturday, the college is trying to cover it up(we're in China), there is a law here making it illegal to start or spread rumors, specifically to prevent this sort of thing getting out.

Of course the rumors (which are right) have made criminals of nearly everyone on campus.

With a lot of the new financial laws, it's illegal to give friends or relatives foreign currency for local if you've just come back from holiday and other things.

Having a friend stay over breaks some of the new Bed and breakfast laws (that were created to stop courchsurfing and AirBnB).

People should really think in terms of right and wrong, not legal or illegal (although with regards to the later 2 care should be taken to conceal illegal, but harmless, right activity).

[es.blofeld]

I think it is a valid concern. BitCoin can been seen as cash (anonymous) and is much more convenient to transact with... I'm pretty sure this will be one of the major argument used as soon as the governments will wake up. We better be ready with strong responses.

[rezin777]

We better be ready with strong responses.

Like, "Do your worst! Muahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha..."

Seriously, if bitcoin isn't resilient to government regulation, then it isn't what I think it is.

[forgotmypassword6x]

I think it is a valid concern. BitCoin can been seen as cash (anonymous) and is much more convenient to transact with... I'm pretty sure this will be one of the major argument used as soon as the governments will wake up. We better be ready with strong responses.

Isn't the response contained in what you just said?  Anything done with BC can be done with cash.   Despite the possibility of laundering, we've been able to live with cash.

[robm]

Seriously, if bitcoin isn't resilient to government regulation, then it isn't what I think it is.

it probably isn't (both things)

[nereer]

There are other ways to digitally transfer money anonymously: through your mobile phone.

[rezin777]

Seriously, if bitcoin isn't resilient to government regulation, then it isn't what I think it is.

it probably isn't (both things)

And although I agree with most of the reasons you've listed, it's still the best I've seen so far.

[Hal]

Exactly what do you mean by money laundering?

[rezin777]

Exactly what do you mean by money laundering?

Turning naughty money into sweet money. If that makes any sense at all!

People have a hard time differentiating between the tool, the crime, and the criminal.

[Anonymous]

Money laundering is anything the state doesn't want you to do with your money.

[Garrett Burgwardt]

Welcome back Atlas

Where've you been?

[Anonymous]

Welcome back Atlas

Where've you been?

Lurking, my friend. More consumption, less posting.

[Stephen Gornick]

Related:

Loosely Managed Digital Currency Could Be Avenue for Crime That's Hard to Block
April 15, 2011
By Colby Adams [Alert Global Media, publishers of MoneyLaundering.com]
 - http://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5907.0

[Nefario]

Welcome back Atlas

Where've you been?

Lurking, my friend. More consumption, less posting.

We'd thought "THEY" had got you.

[coffeetablesex]

technically, money laundering would be hiding the source of the money, which is easily done regardless of the currency involved