Have you guys thought out any potential legal issues that might arise from circulating alternate currency within the US judistriction? I was under the impression that uncle sam doesnt take kindly to any cryptocurreny that gets circulated in the real world(vs just staying online).
Sounds like they could run into some legal issues. Unless they've filed as a Money Transmitter.
http://www.fincen.gov/financial_institutions/msb/msb.registration.html With few exceptions, each money services business (MSB) must register with the Department of the Treasury. http://fincen.gov/statutes_regs/guidance/html/FIN-2013-G001.htmlFIN-2013-G001
Issued: March 18, 2013
Subject: Application of FinCEN's Regulations to Persons Administering, Exchanging, or Using Virtual Currencies
Definitions of User, Exchanger, and Administrator
This guidance refers to the participants in generic virtual currency arrangements, using the terms "user," "exchanger," and "administrator."6 A user is a person that obtains virtual currency to purchase goods or services.7 An exchanger is a person engaged as a business in the exchange of virtual currency for real currency, funds, or other virtual currency.
An administrator is a person engaged as a business in issuing (putting into circulation) a virtual currency, and who has the authority to redeem (to withdraw from circulation) such virtual currency.Administrators and Exchangers of Virtual Currency
An administrator or exchanger that (1) accepts and transmits a convertible virtual currency or (2) buys or sells convertible virtual currency for any reason is a money transmitter under FinCEN's regulations, unless a limitation to or exemption from the definition applies to the person.10 FinCEN's regulations define the term "money transmitter" as a person that provides money transmission services, or any other person engaged in the transfer of funds. The term "money transmission services" means "the acceptance of currency, funds, or other value that substitutes for currency from one person and the transmission of currency, funds, or other value that substitutes for currency to another location or person by any means."11
The definition of a money transmitter does not differentiate between real currencies and convertible virtual currencies. Accepting and transmitting anything of value that substitutes for currency makes a person a money transmitter under the regulations implementing the BSA.12 FinCEN has reviewed different activities involving virtual currency and has made determinations regarding the appropriate regulatory treatment of administrators and exchangers under three scenarios: brokers and dealers of e-currencies and e-precious metals; centralized convertible virtual currencies; and de-centralized convertible virtual currencies.