When bitcoin was created in 2009, it was supposed to act as a peer-to-peer cash system, but it has taken on a different form. To earn bitcoin, a person has to act as a miner, which involves them using their computers energy to maintain the blockchain. Bitcoin would therefore act as the reward for this computing power. As more people started to be interested in bitcoins operation, they started to trade it like a financial asset, for example, a stock.
This is when bitcoin really became a phenomenon, and it is now among the top google searches worldwide. For more information on how the bitcoin has emerged, we advise you to take a look at how Investoo explains the history of bitcoin in their infographic. The authorities are also divided on their perception of bitcoin, with some embracing its applications, many still sceptical and a small portion who want nothing to do about it. In fact, these may be the ideal classifications through which to study bitcoins legal status.
A few countries have accepted bitcoin and have decided to actually create laws that govern bitcoin transactions. The first country to completely accept bitcoin was Japan. Starting on the 1st of April, bitcoin was considered a legal form of payment in Japan, with several public institutions accepting it as currency. The laws governing banking have yet to change, but these are also being considered in order to make bitcoin even more usable.
India seems to be next in line to legalizing bitcoin, now that the government has agreed to regulate bitcoin. The Indian government has agreed that regulating bitcoin could be beneficial and is currently creating the laws to do so. The Reserve Bank of India is also considering using the blockchain technology in banking.
These are those countries with set laws regarding bitcoin, although they dont take it as an actual currency as Japan does. Most countries around the world fall into these category. In the US, for example, the CFTC has classified bitcoin as a commodity while the US Treasury Department sees it as a money service business (MSB). None of these financial regulators considers it as a currency, but it should still be reported under tax returns.
In Europe, nearly all of the countries have bitcoin regulations, which are mainly supposed to minimize financial crimes like money laundering, but not to legalize its use as currency. The same trend can be observed in the Americas from Canada and Greenland all the way down to Argentina.
To the east, Asia and countries in Oceania also have some form of regulation regarding bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, again, just to prevent financial crimes. Bitcoin regulation has always been contentious in Russia, but the countrys central bank has finally put in place regulations that consider the cryptocurrency as an asset.
Only a few countries, six to be exact, have completely banned bitcoin, claiming it is very close to being a currency. One notable example is Iceland, which has the largest bitcoin mines worldwide but residents are not allowed to buy bitcoins. Surprisingly, one can own bitcoins by mining, but not buy bitcoins from a foreign exchange. This is an attempt to prevent capital flight out of Iceland. The other five countries in this category are Bolivia, Ecuador, Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam.
It is unlikely that bitcoin becomes widely accepted as a currency any time soon. Its decentralized nature makes it difficult to regulate, taking away the central banks authority. In Satoshi Nakamotos 2008 paper that created blockchain and subsequently bitcoin, this was the main advantage of cryptocurrency, but they wont relinquish their control over money supply. There are lots of arguments for either side of legalizing bitcoin, but we cannot tell what will happen in the future, merely wait and watch as the events unfold.
If you liked this article, follow us on Twitter @themerklenews and make sure to subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest bitcoin, cryptocurrency, and technology news.
Read more here:
Bitcoin's Legal Status Around the World - The Merkle
- Google removes malware Android apps used to secretly mine bitcoin [Last Updated On: April 26th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 26th, 2014]
- Bitcoin exchange MtGox liquidated [Last Updated On: April 26th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 26th, 2014]
- Bitcoin Wannabe Litecoin Emerges as Low-Price Challenger [Last Updated On: April 26th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 26th, 2014]
- The Worlds First Bitcoin Debit Card Is Almost Here [Last Updated On: April 26th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 26th, 2014]
- How does Bitcoin work? - Bitcoin - Open source P2P money [Last Updated On: April 26th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 26th, 2014]
- Bitcoin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: April 26th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 26th, 2014]
- The Bitcoin Group #27 - China Bans Bitcoin Again - Politics - Dark Market - Bitcoin VC - Video [Last Updated On: April 26th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 26th, 2014]
- Edan Yago - Free Market Bitcoin regulation and Honduras free trade zones.mp4 - Video [Last Updated On: April 26th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 26th, 2014]
- Bitcoin vs. Political Power: The Cryptocurrency Revolution - Stefan Molyneux at TNW Conference - Video [Last Updated On: April 26th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 26th, 2014]
- Video: Roundup of This Week's Bitcoin News 25th April 2014 - Video [Last Updated On: April 26th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 26th, 2014]
- Bitcoin Fredagsbar med Torben Mark Pedersen - Video [Last Updated On: April 26th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 26th, 2014]
- Bitcoin and the Internet of Money - Video [Last Updated On: April 26th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 26th, 2014]
- Bitcoin for Dummies - Video [Last Updated On: April 26th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 26th, 2014]
- Bitcoin runner-up Litecoin emerges as low-price challenger [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2014]
- Bitcoin or Gold? Squawk Walk Taipei- Squawkonomics - Video [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2014]
- Bitcoin Miner AntMiner S1 180 - 200 GH/s Nu in de Aanbieding! - Video [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2014]
- New Bitcoin Documentary: Boom or Bust - Video [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2014]
- Bitcoin May v0.9.1 GitHub Source Code Development Visualization - Video [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2014]
- Atomic-Trade Bitcoin Exchange. AML, BSA, FinCEN compliant - Video [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2014]
- China Bans Bitcoin Again -- Bitcoin the Movie -- Startup for Startups Raises 2,000 BTC - Video [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2014]
- 4/24/14 - Xapo Debit Card, Russia's 1st Bitcoin Conference, Silk Road 2.0 - Video [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2014]
- What is Bitcoin? - Video [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2014]
- David Andolfatto, How Does Bitcoin Work? - Video [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2014]
- Australian Bitcoin traders hit by crash [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Bitcoin traders hit by Mt.Gox crash [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Market Extra: Bitcoin venture capital money hasnt kept up with buzz [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Bitcoin price slips as China steps up regulation [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Bitcoin price slips on China regulation [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Win .33 Bitcoin ($150 or so, Depending on BTC value) - Meme game for May 1st - Take My Bitcoins - Video [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Ron Paul on Bitcoin - Video [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- btc.sx Bitcoin derivatives platform George Samman clip - Video [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- 'The Rise And Rise Of Bitcoin' Filmmaker: 'There Is No Answer Yet' [Last Updated On: April 29th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 29th, 2014]
- Bitcoin the movie: It just had to happen [Last Updated On: April 29th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 29th, 2014]
- Bitcoin Vies with New Cryptocurrencies as Coin of the Cyber Realm [Last Updated On: April 29th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 29th, 2014]
- The Bitcoin Meetup - BitcoinMKE Hosts Jeffrey Tucker - Video [Last Updated On: April 29th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 29th, 2014]
- MIT Bitcoin Expo 2014 - Video [Last Updated On: April 29th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 29th, 2014]
- Bitcoin Expo 2014: Fireside Chat with Dr Gavin Wood - Video [Last Updated On: April 29th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 29th, 2014]
- Rise Bitcoin Singapore - Video [Last Updated On: April 29th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 29th, 2014]
- Preview: Bitcoin Authenticator - 2FA for wallets - Video [Last Updated On: April 29th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 29th, 2014]
- The Bitcoin Group #27 (Live) - China Bans Bitcoin Again - Politics - Dark Market - Bitcoin VC - Video [Last Updated On: April 29th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 29th, 2014]
- 4/25/14 - More China uncertainty, Missourian bitcoin warning, BadLepricon malware - Video [Last Updated On: April 29th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 29th, 2014]
- Money & Tech at The Rise And Rise Of Bitcoin Afterparty - Video [Last Updated On: April 29th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 29th, 2014]
- New Bitcoin student club at MIT will promote the virtual currency [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2014]
- 4/29/14 - MIT Bitcoin Project, Mt Gox revival plan, Mastercard lobbyists & Team Rubicon - Video [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2014]
- BitCoin Dentist GoCoin Fox News Interview - Video [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2014]
- Bitcoin Foundation Election Hiccups -- Pathetic Ohio Bans Bitcoins -- Dogecon SF 2014 - Video [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2014]
- Bitcoin Slips to $420 as BTC China Halts Transactions - Video [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2014]
- MultiSig Plus BitCoin Multi Coin Wallet looks like HUGE INVESTMENT potential! - Video [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2014]
- Bitcoin: what happens when the miners pack up their gear? [Last Updated On: May 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2014]
- Dark Wallet Is About to Make Bitcoin Money Laundering Easier Than Ever [Last Updated On: May 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2014]
- Bitcoin Talk Show #7 -- Skype BitcoinTalkShow to Call in Live! 🙂 - Video [Last Updated On: May 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2014]
- Basic Bitcoin Bitches - Video [Last Updated On: May 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2014]
- Gold standard vs Fiat vs Bitcoin - Truthloader - Video [Last Updated On: May 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2014]
- How to Defund the System: Bitcoin vs. the Central Banksters - Video [Last Updated On: May 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2014]
- Bitcoin, Anarchy and Freedom with Roger Ver - Video [Last Updated On: May 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2014]
- MIT Goes Bitcoin-Wild [Last Updated On: May 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2014]
- Bitcoin Weekly 2014 April 30: Bloomberg adds Bitcoin to their market index, MIT to produce campus-wide bitcoin ... [Last Updated On: May 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2014]
- 'Dark Wallet' wants to make Bitcoin even harder to trace [Last Updated On: May 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2014]
- Bitcoin made simple (video animation) - Video [Last Updated On: May 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2014]
- Jon Matonis: Bitcoin - The future of commerce? - Video [Last Updated On: May 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2014]
- $100 in Bitcoin Going to Every MIT Undergrad - Video [Last Updated On: May 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2014]
- The Rise of Digital Currency - Video [Last Updated On: May 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2014]
- Money Goes Virtual: The Bitcoin Bourse - Video [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2014]
- Bitcoin Lights with LIFX - Video [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2014]
- Bitcoin: How We Got Here and Where We Are Going [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2014]
- 5/1/14 - Larry Summers warns critics, Paym system & Bitcoin Center NYC roundtable - Video [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2014]
- On est Connect S2 #07 1/2 : BitCoin et Musique sur Internet - Video [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2014]
- MIT Undergrads To Receive $100 Worth Of Bitcoin This Fall - Video [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2014]
- Why it only took ME less than 2 minutes to believe in Bitcoin - Video [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2014]
- Bitcoin Basics and Regulation Thoughts from NH Liberty Forum - Bruce Fenton - Video [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2014]
- PRIMER CAJERO DE BITCOIN EN BIT CENTER DE TIJUANA - Video [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2014]
- Yelp adds Bitcoin acceptance to business listings - Video [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2014]
- Bitcoin A Terrorist Threat? Counterterrorism Program Names Virtual Currencies As Area Of Interest [Last Updated On: May 4th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 4th, 2014]
- How Does Bitcoin Works - Video [Last Updated On: May 4th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 4th, 2014]
- 10 Things You Didn't Know About BitCoin - Video [Last Updated On: May 4th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 4th, 2014]
- BITCOIN The Future of Money - Video [Last Updated On: May 4th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 4th, 2014]
- Bitcoin Miner Review - Video [Last Updated On: May 4th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 4th, 2014]
- The Bitcoin Group #28 (Live) - Yelp Lists Bitcoin - MIT Bitcoin $100 - Dark Wallet - Ohio Bans BTC - Video [Last Updated On: May 4th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 4th, 2014]
- Bitcoin: Gary North is Mentally Deranged And Bitcoin Will Change Everything - Video [Last Updated On: May 4th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 4th, 2014]
- Who is the Bitcoin Warlord? - Video [Last Updated On: May 4th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 4th, 2014]