The Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission are telling a U.S. Senate committee that Bitcoins are legitimate financial instruments, boosting prospects for wider acceptance of the virtual currency.
Representatives from the agencies told the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs ahead of a hearing today that the digital money offers benefits and carries risks, like any other online-payment system, according to letters they released before the meeting.
The committee scheduled the hearing “to explore potential promises and risks related to virtual currency for the federal government and society at large” after the Silk Road Hidden Website was shut down in October. The closing of the marketplace, where people could obtain drugs, guns and other illicit goods using Bitcoins, is helping fuel a rally in the virtual currency as speculators bet that the digital money will gain more mainstream acceptance.
“The FBI’s approach to virtual currencies is guided by a recognition that online payment systems, both centralized and decentralized, offer legitimate financial services,” Peter Kadzik, principal deputy assistant attorney general, wrote in a letter yesterday. “Like any financial service, virtual currency systems of either type can be exploited by malicious actors, but centralized and decentralized online payment systems can vary significantly in the types and degrees of illicit financial risk they pose.”
Virtual Money
Introduced in 2008 by a programmer or group of programmers going under the name of Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin is being used to pay for everything from gourmet coffee to smartphones on the Internet. There are almost 12 million Bitcoins in circulation, according to Bitcoincharts, a website that tracks activity across various exchanges.
SEC Chairman Mary Jo White said in a letter yesterday that the coins “likely would be securities and therefore subject to our regulation.’
Bitcoins reached a record high and were trading for $509 apiece at 8:57 a.m. on Bitstamp, one of the more active online exchanges, where the digital money is traded for dollars, euros and other currencies. The virtual currency is up more than 30- fold so far this year.
‘‘Two years ago it was alarm when Silk Road first came on the scene,’’ said Jerry Brito, senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University who is also testifying in front of the committee today. ‘‘Since then, Congress has been educating itself and understands that there are great potential benefits, and like any new technology there are going to be some challenges. But they see there is a balance to be struck here and they are generally positive on the technology.’’
Gaining Acceptance
Since the virtual currency exists as software that’s designed to be untraceable, it’s an attractive tender for those seeking to transact anonymously via the Web. While the closing of Silk Road initially caused the digital money to lose a third of its value within days, Bitcoins have recovered and rallied to record levels as speculators and investors bet that the currency will be less of a fad and gain more mainstream acceptance.