This week, Mt. Gox, one of the world’s biggest bitcoin exchanges, went dark and could very well be insolvent. Apparently, the collapse of Mt. Gox has caused a large number of investors to lose approximately $320 million. In addition, one leaked document suggests the Mt. Gox operators feel this could be the end of bitcoin.
One United States senator wants to make sure bitcoin has ended completely.
In a letter issued to Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen and several other officials and financial regulators, West Virginia Democratic Senator Joe Manchin urged the U.S. to ban bitcoin for being “disruptive to our economy.”
Citing various illicit online transactions, the volatility in prices and the security vulnerabilities, Manchin expressed disappointment that the U.S. government hasn’t taken the lead on prohibiting bitcoin such as China and Thailand.
“The clear ends of Bitcoin for either transacting in illegal goods and services or speculative gambling make me wary of its use,” Manchin wrote. “I urge the regulators to work together, act quickly, and prohibit this dangerous currency from harming hard-working Americans.”
According to a report from Forbes, a spokesperson for the West Virginia official said Manchin’s tight regulation proposals have yet to include several other digital currencies. It was noted that Senator Manchin is currently gathering as much information as possible in order to employ such restrictive measures.
Economic Policy Journal notes that Manchin’s largest contributors are commercial banking and the Securities and Investment sectors. He is a member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee.
Manchin isn’t the only member on Capitol Hill to express their dismay with bitcoin. Delaware Democratic Senator and chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Tom Carper published an open statement calling for bitcoin regulations.
“The disturbing news today from Japan is a reminder of the damage potentially ill equipped and unregulated financial actors can wreak on unsuspecting consumers,” Carper said in a statement. “U.S. policymakers and regulators can and should learn from this incident to protect consumers.”
Economic Collapse News reported last month that the Treasury Secretary has hinted at forthcoming regulation pertaining to virtual currencies. Critics of bitcoin have long argued that Washington would intervene eventually and institute prohibitive measures because the digital currency could be a threat to both the banking industry and maybe even the U.S. dollar.
The entire letter from Manchin can be read below:
Dear Secretary Lew, Chairwoman Yellen, Commissioner Curry, Acting Chairman Wetjen, Chairman Gruenberg, Chairwoman White:
I write today to express my concerns about Bitcoin. This virtual currency is currently unregulated and has allowed users to participate in illicit activity, while also being highly unstable and disruptive to our economy. For the reasons outlined below, I urge regulators to take appropriate action to limit the abilities of this highly unstable currency.
By way of background, Bitcoin is a crypto-currency that has gained notoriety in recent months due to its rising exchange value and relation to illegal transactions. Each Bitcoin is defined by a public address and a private key, thus Bitcoin is not only a token of value but also a method for transferring that value. It also means that Bitcoin provides a unique digital fingerprint, which allows for anonymous and irreversible transactions.
The very features that make Bitcoin attractive to some also attract criminals who are able to disguise their actions from law enforcement. Due to Bitcoin’s anonymity, the virtual market has been extremely susceptible to hackers and scam artists stealing millions from Bitcoins users. Anonymity combined with Bitcoin’s ability to finalize transactions quickly, makes it very difficult, if not impossible, to reverse fraudulent transactions.
Bitcoin has also become a haven for individuals to buy black market items. Individuals are able to anonymously purchase items such as drugs and weapons illegally. I have already written to regulators once on the now-closed Silkroad, which operated for years in supplying drugs and other black market items to criminals, thanks in large part to the creation of Bitcoin.
That is why more than a handful of countries, and their banking systems, have cautioned against the use of Bitcoin. Indeed, it has been banned in two different countries—Thailand and China—and South Korea stated that it will not recognize Bitcoin as a legitimate currency. Several other countries, including the European Union, have issued warnings to Bitcoin users as their respective governments consider options for regulating or banning its use entirely. While it is disappointing that the world leader and epicenter of the banking industry will only follow suit instead of making policy, it is high time that the United States heed our allies’ warnings. I am most concerned that as Bitcoin is inevitably banned in other countries, Americans will be left holding the bag on a valueless currency.
Our foreign counterparts have already understood the wide range of problems even with Bitcoin’s legitimate uses – from its significant price fluctuations to its deflationary nature. Just last week, Bitcoin prices plunged after the currency’s major exchange, Mt. Gox, experienced technical issues. Two days ago, this exchange took its website down and is no longer even accessible. This was not a unique event; news of plummeting or skyrocketing Bitcoin prices is almost a weekly occurrence. In addition, its deflationary trends ensure that only speculators, such as so-called “Bitcoin miners,” will benefit from possessing the virtual currency. There is no doubt average American consumers stand to lose by transacting in Bitcoin. As of December 2013, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) shows 1.3% inflation, while a recent media report indicated Bitcoin CPI has 98% deflation. In other words, spending Bitcoin now will cost you many orders of wealth in the future. This flaw makes Bitcoin’s value to the U.S. economy suspect, if not outright detrimental.
The clear ends of Bitcoin for either transacting in illegal goods and services or speculative gambling make me weary of its use. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee issued a report just this month stating, “There is widespread concern about the Bitcoin system’s possible impact on national currencies, its potential for criminal misuse, and the implications of its use for taxation.” Before the U.S. gets too far behind the curve on this important topic, I urge the regulators to work together, act quickly, and prohibit this dangerous currency from harming hard-working Americans.
Sincerely,
U.S. Joe Manchin III
United States Senator
Bitcoin was an example of what happens with fiat currencies eventually, because even if it was “mined”, it was still information in the end. US Policy makers should look at the failure of Bitcoin, as a model for the eventual failure of the non-backed US dollar (If the petrodollar status should fail).
Addendum… all forms of currency heavily based on information can face that end!