Bitcoin itself can not be regulated. First you have to realize that. This is because of the fact that bitcoin is decentralized, and no central entity will ever be able to assert regulatory measures on top of the bitcoin blockchain.
However, regulations on exchanges, hosted wallets, etc. are what's possible and what's happening right now.
I think that these regulations are needed to an extent to protect users from fraudulent bitcoin-businesses. However, it shouldn't become restrictive to the point that it affects how people access and use bitcoin itself.