THE FEDERAL RESERVE BITCOIN STRATEGY

By Alex Gorale

This morning The Federal Reserve Bitcoin Strategy was released in a paper outlining multiple options for improving the U.S. payment system.

In the past, Digital currency had been deemed too immature. Now, after pressure from private sector interests, the Fed is seriously analyzing the benefit of incorporating Bitcoin code in the U.S. fiat system.

“A U.S. payment system that is safe, efficient and broadly accessible is vital to the U.S. economy… the Federal Reserve plays an important role in promoting these qualities as a leader, catalyst for change and provider of payment services…”

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The universe wants one money

By Oleg Andreev

In this post I address issues of competing government currencies, competing private currencies, gold, silver, bitcoin and alternative “crypto-currencies”.

We all know that variety and competion is a good thing. We all want slightly different things, value the same things differently or make different trade-offs. That’s why we have a wide variety of products, prices, quality, colors and materials on the market. Interestingly, money is different. We all want one single universal money. It may not be obvious to many people, so let me explain.

How money is different from everything else? On one hand, money is just an asset. You can produce, buy, sell or hold it. On the other hand, money is a medium of exchange. It allows you to trade your 8 hours in the office for a new iPhone. It also allows you to delay consumption decision. You can spend 8 hours of work today, but then be free to decide when and for what to spend your salary. If suddenly you need to buy a ticket to Hong Kong, you can do it without working extra couple of hours to earn it.

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Instead of Fighting Bitcoin, the US Could Make Its Own Digital Currency

By Robert McMillian

The US government has been seriously studying bitcoin for about two years now. The FBI knows how to seize the digital currency. The Marshal’s Service knows how to sell it. The IRS knows how to tax it. And now, the Federal Reserve should copy it.

So says James Angel, a professor of economics at Georgetown University. He thinks the government should create what he calls “bitdollar,” a bitcoin-like digital currency that’s backed by the US dollar.

Yes, many believe the whole point of bitcoin is to separate money from the governments of the world. But bitcoin also seeks to create an open payment network anyone can use without jumping through the hoops that encumber, say, credit card or international money transfer networks, and Angel thinks the government can help accomplish such a thing. 

He is among those who believe the really powerful idea is bitcoin as a payment system, rather than bitcoin as a currency.

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NEW REVELATIONS ON REGIN MALWARE, POSSIBLY STATE-SPONSORED

By  Giulio Prisco

In published on MIT Technology Review, legendary cryptography expert warns that antivirus companies have tracked for years a recently uncovered, very powerful and sophisticated malware, but chose not to disclose their findings. 

Why? Because there are indications that the malware is developed and operated by a government – the United States government.

Schneier is an American cryptographer, computer security and privacy specialist, and writer. He is the author of several books on general security topics, computer security and cryptography. 

One of the most influential and respected computer security experts in the world,  Schneier publishes Crypto-Gram, a free monthly e-mail newsletter about security.

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Evolution, Not Revolution: How to Sell Bitcoin to Regulators

By Amor Sexton (@amorsexton)

Amor Sexton is a consultant and lawyer at Adroit Lawyers, Australia's first specialist digital currency legal practice. She advises digital currency businesses and has worked with bitcoin industry bodies to clarify the regulatory framework in Australia. 

In a recent article, Jon Matonis stated that "bitcoin requires forceful and aggressive legal defense, not complicity with governments in crafting policy and regulations".

The current global political climate has resulted in the development of laws that are increasingly pervasive and intrusive on the rights of private individuals. In many countries, forceful and aggressive legal advocacy is necessary to protect civil rights and civil liberties against draconian laws.

However, the bitcoin community is not fighting a battle against law enforcement. Bitcoin is not a revolution against government. It is an evolution of the way we transfer value, an evolution of the concept of money, and an evolution from centralised opacity to decentralised transparency.

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‘Every Time You Use Bitcoin, You Undermine Violence’ — Roger Ver on War Funding

Roger Ver, Bitcoin multimillionaire and peace advocate, is no stranger to violence.

He called out the state organization of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms (ATF) for being murderers (à la Waco), and then he found himself the target of ATF-backed persecution. He spent ten months in a cage in California. Ver moved to Japan the day his parole ended and has lived there ever since.

Ver is a well-known donor and angel investor, and he’s currently offering to match up to US$20,000 in donated bitcoins to Antiwar.com. CoinTelegraph saw this as the perfect occasion to ask him more about his beliefs on Bitcoin and peace.

CoinTelegraph: Why do you think war happens?

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