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There's only two possibilities here. Either the IRS is intent on destroying bitcoin or they are so completely incompetence and they presume their capacity to introduce policy in the face of their own complete and utter ignorance of the facts. Nor would it seem that even a modicum of research is necessary for the big pant-loads at the IRS to screw up other people's lives. Well done you clowns!
So, since they've decided that bitcoin is property, not a legitimate currency, every time one uses it as a consumer, every cup of coffee, restaurant meal, book, piece of computer hardware, you buy with it, you have to pay capital gains tax. In other words, bitcoin has been elevated to the prestigious position of gold: scary competitor to whom we will give no quarter.
That's about the shape of things. If you needed any further evidence that the U.S government, and national governments, in general, hold free markets in contempt, there you go. Really though if you're surprised by these developments, you haven't been paying attention.
What does this mean for bitcoin? Things start getting interesting. Many have been talking about lobbying for a change of policy. That seems strangely myopic in its blindness over the necessity of national governments to not allow competitors with their currency.
For me, the writing has always been on the wall for some time (and I've been perplexed by those who can't or won't read it). Bitcoin can only thrive as a competitor to fiat currencies. It can only provide such competition, however, outside the good graces of the nation states.
Is the trite mass media condemnation of bitcoin as currency of criminals destined to be come true? Depends what you mean by criminals.
If by "criminals" you mean people freely engaging in voluntary exchange which does not trespass on the life or liberty of anyone else, but which the wise overlords of the state determine is unacceptable? Well, maybe.
Do remember though, that the real criminals, the ones who use violence and extortion to get their way - the narcotics cartels, the human traffickers, the professional murderers - have long used the U.S. dollar as their coin of the realm. Whose money is the real bank roll of gangsters?
Have no illusions. This ridiculous ruling is about criminalizing people who want to choose their own currency. After all, what can be scarier than that for the fraudsters and bureaucrats who run our government-banking complex?
So, since they've decided that bitcoin is property, not a legitimate currency, every time one uses it as a consumer, every cup of coffee, restaurant meal, book, piece of computer hardware, you buy with it, you have to pay capital gains tax. In other words, bitcoin has been elevated to the prestigious position of gold: scary competitor to whom we will give no quarter.
That's about the shape of things. If you needed any further evidence that the U.S government, and national governments, in general, hold free markets in contempt, there you go. Really though if you're surprised by these developments, you haven't been paying attention.
What does this mean for bitcoin? Things start getting interesting. Many have been talking about lobbying for a change of policy. That seems strangely myopic in its blindness over the necessity of national governments to not allow competitors with their currency.
For me, the writing has always been on the wall for some time (and I've been perplexed by those who can't or won't read it). Bitcoin can only thrive as a competitor to fiat currencies. It can only provide such competition, however, outside the good graces of the nation states.
Is the trite mass media condemnation of bitcoin as currency of criminals destined to be come true? Depends what you mean by criminals.
If by "criminals" you mean people freely engaging in voluntary exchange which does not trespass on the life or liberty of anyone else, but which the wise overlords of the state determine is unacceptable? Well, maybe.
Do remember though, that the real criminals, the ones who use violence and extortion to get their way - the narcotics cartels, the human traffickers, the professional murderers - have long used the U.S. dollar as their coin of the realm. Whose money is the real bank roll of gangsters?
Have no illusions. This ridiculous ruling is about criminalizing people who want to choose their own currency. After all, what can be scarier than that for the fraudsters and bureaucrats who run our government-banking complex?
About the Author:
Wallace Eddington is a major commentator on financial and monetary news and a regular contributor to the Bitcoin Profit Calculator blog, where he's gotten the scoop on the Mt. Gox fiasco and other hot bitcoin topics. Check out his hard hitting piece on inflation at the Fiat Currency Review.
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