BS, the US don't legally classify Bitcoin as money, and that's what matters, unless they go though the motions of doing that first they can only pursue transactions that involve fiat, and other legal tender, under money laundering laws.
From E-Gold case:
"However, in its actions from 2006-2008, the U.S. Treasury Department in conjunction with the United States Department of Justice stretched the definition of money transmitter in the USA Patriot Act to include any system that allows transfer of any kind of value from one person to another, not merely national currency or cash."
And that was 10 years ago so imagine what they consider under definition of money transmitter today. Maybe even wearing clothes would fall under that stretched definition or money transmitting
The charges are not under the USA Patriot Act, they are under statutes ranging from 1956 to 1960 if you read the U.S. Attorney’s Office press release. There is no mention of charges under the Patriot Act whatsoever.
The US government can stretch the definition of whatever they like in their country, and the sheeple will do little. Doesn't mean other countries will abide.
(a)(1) Whoever, knowing that the property involved in a financial transaction represents the proceeds of some form of unlawful activity, conducts or attempts to conduct such a financial transaction which in fact involves the proceeds of specified unlawful activity
(4) the term “financial transaction” means (A) a transaction which in any way or degree affects interstate or foreign commerce (i) involving the movement of funds by wire or other means or (ii) involving one or more monetary instruments, or (iii) involving the transfer of title to any real property, vehicle, vessel, or aircraft, or (B) a transaction involving the use of a financial institution which is engaged in, or the activities of which affect, interstate or foreign commerce in any way or degree;
Definition of fund from dictionary
1a : a sum of money or other resources
Definition of money from dictionary
something generally accepted as a medium of exchange, a measure of value,
They might not have needed the Patriot Act in this case. But they can, and will, when necessary.
