BitPay Testified Before the US Senate

BitPay Testified Before the US Senate

BitPay’s Co-Founder and CEO, Tony Gallippi testified yesterday before the Subcommittee on National Security and International Trade and Finance and the Subcommittee on Economic Policy of the US Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs on “The Present and Future Impact of Virtual Currency” highlighting Bitcoin's role in growing the US economy.

Gallippi outlined how bitcoins allow small to medium sized companies to reach more customers by opening new markets around the world that were previously unreachable. BitPay’s mission is to build a better ecommerce world by creating software that helps merchants clear and settle transactions over the bitcoin network anywhere in the world.

When Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) noted that,

“In order for Bitcoin to flourish it is imperative its susceptibility to illicit uses be addressed;” to which Mr. Gallippi responded, “We share in the common goal; to protect the consumers from fraud and that legitimate service providers separate the good actors from the bad.”

Even though it’s small, Bitcoin has invented something extremely valuable. With Bitcoin, it is now possible to transfer an asset remotely, and immediately settle the transaction, with no counterparty risk. And this is where the real potential for Bitcoin exists.

“Credit cards were never designed for the Internet and credit card fees are discriminatory, the highest fees are paid by the smallest businesses. If you are a business owner, it is your fault that you took a stolen credit card, even if the bank approved it,” says Gallippi.

“Bitcoin is a cheaper, faster, and more secure payment system, with no discrimination against smaller businesses.”

Bitcoin is a technology with tremendous cost savings for businesses and consumers. As a more secure, faster, and more affordable option for transferring funds, bitcoin has the potential to create more jobs and more exports here in America.

Today Bitcoin is in its infancy and much like the early days of the Internet. However, looking 10-20 years in the future, BitPay believes that the many companies built upon bitcoin-related technology should be based in America, creating jobs in America, and building a revenue base and tax base in America.

About BitPay

BitPay is a Payment Service Provider specializing in eCommerce, B2B, and enterprise solutions for virtual currencies.

Visit https://bitpay.com/


Related News

Reminder: Another Senate Hearing on Bitcoin Today at 3:30PM

Monday's Senate hearing on Bitcoin was, overall, positive for the digital currency. Today, we're expecting yet another hearing. It's being held by the U. S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. The time? 3:30PM. Titled "The present and future impact of virtual currency", the hearing will have witnesses on two panels: Panel I: Ms. Jennifer Shasky Calvery, Director, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (she also testified at Monday's hearing): and Mr. David Cotney, Commissioner of Banks, Massachusetts Division of Banks. And Panel II: Mr. Anthony Gallippi, Co-founder and....

Canadian Senate Report on Digital Currency

The Senate banking committee has been preparing a Report on digital currency, and in service of which Andreas Antonopoulos, along with many others, have testified before a committee. The conclusion reached by the committee seems to be a largely positive one, saying explicitly that the benefits of this technology outweigh the challenges it introduces and recommending a "light touch" in the regulatory side. A little while ago Decentral, was approached by a Senate staffer for assistance in placing a short message and a "proof of existence" into the Blockchain on the release of their report....

Andreas Antonopoulos to Canada’s Senate: ‘There is No Need for Centralized Regulation’

On October 8, one of the most prominent thought leaders in the crypto space, Andreas Antonopoulos, was invited to share his views and knowledge on Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. The session of the Senate of Canada’s Banking, Trade and Commerce committee, which focused mostly on the regulatory aspect of digital currencies, lasted for almost 2 hours and has been widely lauded by the Bitcoin community. “[…] entities near the center of a traditional financial network are vested with enormous power, act with full authority, and therefore must be carefully investigated, regulated and subject to....

Senate banking committee invites BitPay and Ripple to speak

The US Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs previously announced that it would be holding a hearing, and that date is now set for November 19, 2013. The hearing, named “The Present and Future Impact of Virtual Currency,” will include BitPay CEO Anthony Gallippi and Ripple Labs CEO Chris Larsen. Also included in the panel are Jennifer Shasky Calvery, from FinCEN; David Cotney, from the Massachusetts Division of Banks; Sarah Jane Huges, researcher at Indiana University; and Paul Smocer, president of BITS at Financial Services Roundtable. The hearing will take place during....

Bitcoin Faces Regulatory Push in Senate Banking Committee Hearing

View the full video of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs hearing on virtual currencies here. It was refreshing to see a Senate hearing kick off half an hour early for a change, and in a place with far more sitting room than room 538 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. Just before 15:00 ET, while aides were still preparing that room for the two-hour session, Senator Jerry Moran posted a question on reddit: "I'm one of the Senators attending today's US Senate Banking Committee hearing related to bitcoin. What would you like me to know?" He wanted wider input on....