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Topic: Is bitcoin's anonymity really a problem for the governments and regulations? (Read 2062 times)

legendary
Activity: 1456
Merit: 1000
Its not BTC anonymity that is the issue for governments - its encryption without back-doors.
member
Activity: 70
Merit: 10
Of course it is. They can't regulate anything or see money laundering.
legendary
Activity: 1218
Merit: 1007
I may sound like a total noob or dumbass, but, isn't cash held in your hand anonymous?

Cash would be generally anonymous if you had a bundle of 10's of something, i.e. USD Fiat

and not even reporting where that came from and you spent it on the local drug dealer or

c-store. Who's to know who the hell you are when using cash instead of debit/credit?

Supply of cash is control by governments and banks. They dont control bitcoin though. Thus its seems that "anonymity" is only excuse for them to squash something out of their control. 
When there is literally no other reason for them to be against it, they will go for absolutely anything they can. Since Bitcoin is overall "good" in its other aspects, they can only target the anonymity offered by it.

There is no other "bad" aspect to Bitcoin, at least aspects that affect the government.
full member
Activity: 211
Merit: 100
in europe they want to ban cash altogether and we have the first examples: https://www.rt.com/business/173564-norway-cash-free-country/
france banned transactions over 1000 euro already.
the vision apparently is that every transaction will go through the banking system and thus be monitored - every account is verified by an ID. Higher transaction amounts are watched closely and questions will be asked if there is any sort of suspicion due to any reason.
sr. member
Activity: 392
Merit: 250
I may sound like a total noob or dumbass, but, isn't cash held in your hand anonymous?

Cash would be generally anonymous if you had a bundle of 10's of something, i.e. USD Fiat

and not even reporting where that came from and you spent it on the local drug dealer or

c-store. Who's to know who the hell you are when using cash instead of debit/credit?

Supply of cash is control by governments and banks. They dont control bitcoin though. Thus its seems that "anonymity" is only excuse for them to squash something out of their control. 
full member
Activity: 182
Merit: 100
★Bitvest.io★ Play Plinko or Invest!
I may sound like a total noob or dumbass, but, isn't cash held in your hand anonymous?

Cash would be generally anonymous if you had a bundle of 10's of something, i.e. USD Fiat

and not even reporting where that came from and you spent it on the local drug dealer or

c-store. Who's to know who the hell you are when using cash instead of debit/credit?
member
Activity: 119
Merit: 100
Because governments want to stalk us...  Roll Eyes
legendary
Activity: 2912
Merit: 1852
...

My take is that the problem for most BTC users is that Bitcoin is pretty anonymous assuming the below re most users:

1)  You take some care to hide your tracks (mixing coins, using wallets only once for receiving (and then sending))

2)  You are not a BIG FISH (using large amounts of BTC)

3)  You stay away from illegal activity like Darknet drug purchases, etc.  Maybe DON'T become an loud activist either...

Governments have plenty of other things to worry about (and "Tax Donkeys" to go after) to worry about most of us.
sr. member
Activity: 493
Merit: 250
Live by your own rules
I was just reading this article:
Anonymity Recognized as Serious Problem with Bitcoin
https://coinreport.net/anonymity-recognized-serious-problem-bitcoin/

It says, among other things:

Quote
some fear anonymity might be the issue that truly threatens bitcoin’s future

Quote
Regarding anonymity, Bernanke explained it’s a “bug” in that it allows bitcoin to be the vehicle for illicit transactions. He suspects government oversight will be a result of this, and could reduce the appeal of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

I wonder why so many people worry about this? It is rather known fact that bitcoin is not anonymous, but only pseudo-anonymous (http://www.bitcoinisnotanonymous.com/). And what will happen with Bitcoin if CT or Zerocoin or some other technology will be incorporated to bitcoin, to make it truly anonymous?
If you are curious and ask why they are concerned with bitcoin anonymity, I think the answer is because they do not have sufficient knowledge about bitcoin and problems, they need time to learn if they are ready to accept bitcoin.
sr. member
Activity: 392
Merit: 250
I don't think it'll be too much of an issue but then I will notice some issues where anonymity has played a big part in criminal activity.

I think EU does not really agree that this is not a big issue:
https://news.bitcoin.com/european-union-seeking-ban-bitcoin-aftermath-paris-terrorist-attacks/

Off course they are bunch of idiots, but unfortunately they are making laws and regulations, not we. And this is a problem.
member
Activity: 70
Merit: 10
I don't think it'll be too much of an issue but then I will notice some issues where anonymity has played a big part in criminal activity.
legendary
Activity: 1372
Merit: 1252
The main problem for governments is they can't tax it properly. Sure, the ledger is public and all that, but anyone that wants to can achieve a pretty decent level of anonymity. Of course it's not very user friendly and most people will not get into trouble trying to mix their coins and whatnot. In the future it will be way easier to do it so I guess governments are going to face a lot of problems controlling and taxing it even for the average joe.
full member
Activity: 210
Merit: 100
They want to be able to freeze funds, which is not possible with bitcoin. But similarly, they can not freeze the movement of cash either. So I guess eventually all the regulations for cash will be applied to bitcoin, before more strict address-based regulation is in place



With cash the government can still interfere and freeze accounts. But with bitcoin it is totally not possible, so there may be reason for government to dislike it
member
Activity: 88
Merit: 10
I don't see it as a problem. In fact, I think it's more of a necessary feature for a currency that is not government controlled. I see financial privacy as a basic human right and I am not alone with that.
I'm with you but financial privacy can also violated even if you think BTC is anonymous.
legendary
Activity: 1734
Merit: 1015
I don't see it as a problem. In fact, I think it's more of a necessary feature for a currency that is not government controlled. I see financial privacy as a basic human right and I am not alone with that.
hero member
Activity: 1064
Merit: 505
This kind of anonymity makes a "hole" for terorist to keep bitcoin since it's difficult to track it down who the owner of the address.
At my country, still not have a law but it's still not legal as normal payment ( means : use bitcoin with own risk )

Terrorists are not using bitcoin tho and almost no criminals either since bitcoin is so volatile it wouldn't make sense for terrorists to convert 100 million dollars to bitcoin, it would be impossible and extremely risky, it's not going to happen

All darknet markets where you can hire killers, buy drugs, weapons, etc, use bitcoin. So its a main currecy supporting criminal activity in the darknets. Thus why not terrorits? Maybe not good to sent 100 milion, but then to buy guns or probably bombs, require much less money, which can be paid by bitcoin.

Because terrorists have existed long before bitcoin and there is no point in switching to bitcoins, have you ever seen any news about big terrorist organizations using bitcoins? No, because they don't and never will if they can use normal currency.
legendary
Activity: 1988
Merit: 1012
Beyond Imagination
They want to be able to freeze funds, which is not possible with bitcoin. But similarly, they can not freeze the movement of cash either. So I guess eventually all the regulations for cash will be applied to bitcoin, before more strict address-based regulation is in place

sr. member
Activity: 826
Merit: 263
I'm sure the big problem for them isn't anonymity but they cant control the bitcoin. We'll know how shit government is. But for our that wants freedom bitcoin is best choices  Wink
sr. member
Activity: 392
Merit: 250
This kind of anonymity makes a "hole" for terorist to keep bitcoin since it's difficult to track it down who the owner of the address.
At my country, still not have a law but it's still not legal as normal payment ( means : use bitcoin with own risk )

Terrorists are not using bitcoin tho and almost no criminals either since bitcoin is so volatile it wouldn't make sense for terrorists to convert 100 million dollars to bitcoin, it would be impossible and extremely risky, it's not going to happen

All darknet markets where you can hire killers, buy drugs, weapons, etc, use bitcoin. So its a main currecy supporting criminal activity in the darknets. Thus why not terrorits? Maybe not good to sent 100 milion, but then to buy guns or probably bombs, require much less money, which can be paid by bitcoin.
hero member
Activity: 1064
Merit: 505
This kind of anonymity makes a "hole" for terorist to keep bitcoin since it's difficult to track it down who the owner of the address.
At my country, still not have a law but it's still not legal as normal payment ( means : use bitcoin with own risk )

Terrorists are not using bitcoin tho and almost no criminals either since bitcoin is so volatile it wouldn't make sense for terrorists to convert 100 million dollars to bitcoin, it would be impossible and extremely risky, it's not going to happen
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