be careful what you wish for
This Comment introduced Bitcoin in conjunction with the history of the
International Monetary Fund in order to demonstrate the possibility of future
conflict between the two. The peer-to-peer, decentralized, and largely
unregulated system that is Bitcoin contains the potential to threaten the global
economic stability that the TMF was created to protect. The threat posed by
Bitcoin is, for the moment, only theoretical. But as more and more people come
to understand the advantages of digital money over paper money, the threat it
poses becomes increasingly real. If the future of e-commerce entails a transition
to digital currencies, it is critical that our economic, political, and legal
institutions are prepared. Recognizing the importance of Bitcoin in the context
of digital currencies is the first step in understanding how to best plan for the
future.
How, when, and to what extent it will grow remains to be seen. But the
potential consequences of widespread adoption of the Bitcoin are already
palpable. In order to guard against the global economic destabilization that could
occur if and when the world decides to adopt digital currencies, we must
consider ways in which our national and international institutions can guide that
transition in the here and now. At present, the IMF has at least two options. It
can attempt to exercise indirect control over digital currencies vis-A-vis its
member nations by expanding the scope of Article IV, Section 5 of the Articles
of Agreement. Alternatively, it can attempt to exercise direct control over digital
currencies by offering them a form of quasi-membership status, where increased
legitimacy is traded for Bitcoin users' business.
Regardless of which measure is chosen, the potential need for a method to
combat speculative attacks using Bitcoin is clear. As the Internet continues to
play an increasingly important role in how we conduct commerce, our
institutions have to adjust to the new challenges this change creates. The
evolution of Bitcoin is no exception. Although still in its nascent stages, Bitcoin
and other digital currencies like it are projected to become important players in
the future of e-commerce. The time to consider how to prepare for that future is
now, before practical problems arise.
http://chicagounbound.uchicago.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1407