A cold shower is coming for those of you waiting for an immediate domino effect to Panama. The president wants all the checkboxes ticked before approving the crypto Laws.
It looks like President Cortizo wants strict money laundering controls to be enforced. This is one of the major problem other countries that had adopted cryptocurrency is facing and I believe that that could be a minimal effect to that if he actually wants to legalise Bitcoin as a legal tender. Looking at the whitepaper of Bitcoin, it tend to be a peer-to-peer electronic cash system without a need for a third party in-between.
The government are trying to alter the aim and objectives why the Bitcoin network was established. Looking at it, even before the Bitcoin network was established. The problem of money laundering had been a major problem to the use of fiat currencies, so why is the government trying to be paint Bitcoin with a bizzare colour when the issue of money laundering can never be encumbered.
https://news.robotshib.com/panama-president-demands-strict-anti-money-laundering-measures-in-new-crypto-law-11749.htmlI think it is high time we need to change our mentality when it comes to the use of Bitcoin. Bitcoin was never create for the use of money laundering. It was established for a purpose and if bad people tend to hijack for their own gain, should we now see it as a gift? Bitcoin had made many investors and traders escape poverty and financial stability. I think the president of panama needs to concentrate on the major benefits of adopting Bitcoin rather than the weakness.
Panama has decided to postpone the legalisation of digital assets. According to multiple sources, Panamanian President Laurentino Cortizo has stated that he will not sign the crypto bill. The president stated in the statement that the only way for a reversal to occur is for the crypto bill to include measures that will prevent money laundering in the sector. This move has exchanges and people scrambling to get into the market as soon as the bill is approved.
This is a good move but he should not makes it look like Bitcoin could be a big detriment to the economy of the panamanian sovereignty. If the president wants to tackle money laundering and other illegal use of Cryptocurrency with a strict rules through the use of KYC, then that's a good move. It will be publicly accepted but that should not delay the adoption. All those rules can be put in place with time and should not elongate the adoption processes.
To be honest, Panama is not famous for its strict AML/KYC measures. Still, the president probably recognises the stakes are pretty high here, as the cost of a "reaction" from other regulators could be detrimental to the country's interests.
The adoption of Bitcoin could boast the panamanian economy because miners will find a good fountain there and the government will earn good funds from taxes and cryptocurrency regulations.