Senator Romney Considers Action As A Nation On Cryptocurrency Threat To Homeland Security – Forbes

As Senator Romney has recently been in the news on his criticism of the President as impeachment proceedings, it seems the former Presidential Candidate and Republican Senator from Utah might want to impeach cryptocurrency from the United States based on the threat level it may pose to national security.

During a hearing in the U.S. Senate Committee On Homeland Security And Governmental Affairs, Senators asked leaders from the FBI, Homeland Security, and the National Counterterrorism Center questions on Threats To The Homeland, Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) raised the prospect of whether the U.S. needed to take action on cryptocurrencies or not worry about them. The FBI took no time in responding how cryptocurrencies are a significant problem that will get bigger and bigger.

WASHINGTON, DC - September 23: Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) speaks to journalists before votes on the ... [+] Senate floor on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on Monday September 23, 2019. (Photo by Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Im not in the Banking Committee. I dont begin to understand how cryptocurrency works. I would think it is more difficult to carry out your work when we cant follow the money because the money is hidden from us and wonder whether there should not be some kind of effort taken in our nation to deal with cryptocurrency.

While the Senator invited all three of the witnesses to respond to his question, FBI Director Wray jumped in to note how big of a problem cryptocurrency already is. The FBI Director stated, Well certainly for us cryptocurrency is already a significant issue and we can project out pretty easily that its going to become a bigger and bigger one. Whether or not that is the subject of some kind of regulation as the response is harder for me to speak too.

FBI Director Wray, while being careful not to provide any policy or regulatory recommendation, noted the issues of cryptocurrencies and how they are used by terrorists is part of a larger issue involved with our enemies increased capabilities in using tech and the ability to process anonymous transactions.

...it is part of a broader trend...in terms of the terrorist threat in terms of our adversaries of all shapes and sizes becoming more facile with technology, in particular various types of technology that anonymize their efforts...

WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES - 2018/06/28: Christopher A. Wray, Director of the Federal Bureau of ... [+] Investigation, at the House Judiciary Committee in the Rayburn Building at the US Capitol. (Photo by Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The FBI Director did note that Were looking at [cryptocurrencies] from an investigative perspective including tools that we have to try to follow the money. He also noted that it is not just cryptocurrency but various types of technologies that, if the U.S. doesnt get its act together, could result in the FBI being walled off by technology from doing their jobs in the future.

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Senator Romney Considers Action As A Nation On Cryptocurrency Threat To Homeland Security - Forbes