Reposting this from CryptoCrypt where I'm still editing the draft, but thought it may be good to share here as well...
https://cryptocrypt.org/index.php?topic=5060.msg114770#msg114770Many people will say that Bitlicense proposal is bad simply by virtue of the fact that government regulation is bad. Others may question the right of the state of New York to make any such proposal or to regulate an international technology that will affect people far outside its borders. Some suggest that there is nothing to be gained from any engagement in discussion with an entity such as the State of New York that only seeks to restrain shackle bind and even destroy the liberties of its people for the purpose of extracting fees for some smaller amount of freedom and uses the threats of imprisonment and confiscations enforced by force to achieve these aims, not for the good of its people, but to sustain its own power for power's sake.
However in the interests of discussion on its own terms a close look at the Bitlicense shows that it simply does not do what it hopes to do, and this requires significant revision at the risk of giving credence to such detractors. Even with the assumption that these policy goals are necessary, and that the New York State government is the right and best entity to enforce such a regulatory framework, the proposed Bitlicense framework fails at its goals and instead harms those goals.
It has become increasingly clear that Mr. Lawsky believes that he knows better than any of the experts on the subject matter of his proposed regulation and that the solicitations for feedback are not sincere. It is also increasingly plain that the proposal is not merely misguided but does not achieve its policy goals and instead increases the risk to consumers. We need to go over Lawsky's head on this, he is failing in his responsibilities as a public servant.
The policy guys have to see how the proposal doesn't achieve their policy goals.
I'm not a political person myself, but Circle and some others seems interesting in discussing with them.
I met their CEO Jeremy Allaire, at the hotel we both stayed at in Amsterdam. I'll likely send him a letter, and copy Bruce Fenton and the policy guy at TBF, Jim Harper, Perianne Boring, Jerry Brito, professor of law at GMU, I've met all those folks but I'm looking for maybe a few others you might suggest to carry the message because they have standing in the state, and a greater interest in seeing the matter handled better.
I want to polish and perhaps flush out the draft a little and would like to solicit the good people of the CryptoCrypt for any comment:
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The Bitlicense proposal arose presumably for the purpose of reducing financial risks within the economy, and from the state of NY desiring to protect its consumers. This initiative is some confirmation that the state of NY believes that Bitcoin is an integral component of the state's economic activity. New York has taken a forward looking position by this stance as Bitcoin currently composes a tiny percentage of the economy of the state. While this visionary approach deserves some acclaim, and it fosters NY's image as a visionary financial technology hub and shows its high concern for its citizens, it also suggests no particular urgency for a regulatory framework.
The irony is that the proposed Bitlicence dies not accomplish its policy goals and will instead accomplish the opposite of these policy goals. For this reason, the Bitlicense proposal ought be abandoned in favor of following the guidance put forth by the experts called before congress to testify on this matter In November of 2013. Using only existing processes and procedures and offering a Bitlicense that certifies compliance with these. This will both provide the necessary clarity for business to prosper in the geography at issue with the proposal, as well as avoiding the increased risks inherent in the proposed Bitlicense framework.
1) The proposed Bitlicense framework increases centralization
By producing a new and onerous regulatory framework, there will be fewer market participants in the Bitcoin economic space, and each of these will by necessity be larger in order to support the new regulatory compliance function. The unintended consequence of this is that increasingly the larger companies will outgrow the smaller ones within the state, irrespective of innovation.
This will occur, as it has with other financial technology companies under regulations as the compliance requirements will be a smaller fraction of the overall budgetary requirements. In turn, the larger companies will be able to purchase the smaller companies at a discount to their value with the prospect of reducing the redundant compliance regimes that are so expensive for the smaller companies.
We have seen these same effects with the Dodd-Frank regulatory framework which although with the intent of reducing the risk of the too-big-to-fail systemically important institutions, instead increases the centralization and size of the largest of these and reducing the quantity and quality of innovative smaller entities.
The result of this effect is to reduce competition and increase centralization of these companies. Alternatively Bitcoin companies could exit the state and elect not to serve its constituents. Indeed there are some that are already doing so, and selectively prohibit the citizens of New York from engaging as customers. The cost to New York in lost opportunity, revenue and even in lost population for those that would avoid its jurisdiction ought be a factor in considering a regulatory framework as suggested by
2) Centralization is the risk Bitcoin is designed to avoid.
The increased centralization of Bitcoin companies due to the proposed Bitlicense
- fundamental to the design, white paper
- Chase et al banking hack
3) The Centralization occurs at the highest risk point in the Bitcoin economy.
- alternative is forensic and transparent
- private companies dealing in dollars in USA do not have this transparency auditability and accountability to the extent that they do not make use of Bitcoin.
4) The Bitlicense proposal is fundamentally harmful to the goal of protecting New York's consumers from risk.
Instead of the current proposal, an effective Bitlicense might be one that more simply provides a certification of compliance with existing New York State rules. This would provide some assurance to the consumers under the protection of New York State that the company with which it is transacting has fulfilled these criteria.
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Thanks for any feedback.