Similarly besides its high value, the anonymous and untraceable nature of Bitcoin transactions makes it such a perfect currency for criminals. Bitcoin has attracted considerable adoption by criminal dealers on dark marketplaces using it as a convenient medium of exchange. From drug gangs in Spain, money launderers in the US, cyber-crime gangs in Russia to kidnappers in Turkey; all have found motivation and convenience in using Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to complete their underworld transactions unnoticed. Just last December, Scotland Yard reported that Bitcoin was being “used by CRIMINALS to launder illicit funds.” Another research was published in January of 2018 in the Independent (UK), suggesting that “Bitcoin price is so high because criminals are using it for illegal trades”.
On another note, to increase payment security, the Bitcoin network has created a long transaction processing procedure. Transactions on Bitcoin-blockchain are recorded only once every 10 minutes, but it takes a standard period of 50 minutes more to wait for each new record to appear because the records frequently rollback. Assuming that we make conventional money to disappear and we all adopt Bitcoin as a universal currency, how would it feel to standard in a queue for one hour at your favorite store just to buy a snack?
While the invention of Bitcoin was a real breakthrough, the real limitation to full and mainstream adoption lies in difficult usability. Is it possible to keep cryptocurrency from criminal reach while maintaining its anonymous and untraceable transactions? Is it possible to break down its high price into handy amounts while preserving its value? Is it not possible to make its confirmation procedures in completing transactions quick enough to encourage mass adoption?