Regulating bitcoin

The Law Library of Congress recently published a survey covering forty foreign jurisdictions as well as the European Union, reporting on any regulations or statements from central banks or government offices on the handling of bitcoins as well as any significant use of bitcoins in business transactions.

Topics covered include;

• whether bitcoins are recognised as legal tender, 
• the possibility of negative impacts on the national currency, 
• concerns about fraud, and 
• how transactions using the bitcoin system are viewed by tax authorities.

Of those countries covered in the survey, only a very few, notably China and Brazil, have specific regulations applicable to bitcoin use.

There is widespread concern about the bitcoin system’s possible impact on national currencies, its potential for criminal misuse, and the implications of its use for taxation. Overall, the findings of the report reveal that the debate over how to deal with this new virtual currency is still in its infancy.

To download the survey click HERE