US Bank Regulator: Virtual Currencies Could Be 'Revolutionary'
The head of an independent US agency within the US Treasury that supervises national banks has issued new statements on virtual currencies and their "potentially revolutionary" impact on banking. Speaking before the Institute of International Bankers this week, the head of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) Thomas J Curry discussed virtual currency as part of a speech aimed at addressing the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and its ability to adapt to new innovations. In his remarks, Curry referenced the "serious challenges" the banking industry faces from terrorist and criminal....
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The European Banking Authority (EBA) has issued a warning on potential risks related to virtual currencies, but the warning is largely focused on the possibility of fraud and theft. The authority points out that consumers are not protected by union regulation when they buy, trade or hold virtual currencies such as bitcoin. In addition, the regulator warns that there is no guarantee that currency values will remain stable. The EBA was apparently prompted to issue the warning due to a sudden increase in virtual currency trading and the fact that virtual currencies are constantly in the....
With a public statement, India’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), has – once again – said it has not authorized any use of virtual currencies like bitcoin among companies or individuals in the country. In a public release on its website, the RBI has stated: The Reserve Bank of India advises that it has not given any licence / authorization to any entity / company to operate such schemes or deal with Bitcoin or any virtual currency. As such, any user, holder, investor, trader etc., dealing with virtual currencies will be doing so at their own risk. India’s financial regulator....
The Central Bank in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) issued the ‘Regulatory Framework for Stored Values and Electronic Payment Systems’ on January 1 which appeared to ban all virtual currencies. However, the Bank’s Governor recently corrected this misconception, confirming that virtual currencies, including bitcoin, are not banned. Bitcoin is not Banned.....
The Central Bank of Italy (Banca d'Italia) is that country's first governmental authority to issue a statement on virtual currencies. It recently published three directives: Warnings on use of virtual currencies (30 Jan 2015). Notice on virtual currencies (30 Jan 2015). Notice of Central Authority for Reporting on virtual currencies (2nd Feb 2015). The "Notice About the use of virtual currencies" (published on the Supervisory Bulletin No. 1, January 2015) is a summary of guidance previously issued by the European Central Bank (ECB), the European Banking Authority (EBA), and the Financial....
The head of Russia's largest bank is said to have praised virtual currencies, suggesting that the bank may even enter the market if demand continues. Online reports suggest that Sberbank CEO Herman Gref was bullish on virtual currencies during a discussion with journalists in Moscow this week. If there is demand for a virtual currency, the bank could move in that direction, he said. Gref is also said to have singled out Yandex Money as a first step in the direction of a virtual currency. While not itself classified as money, Yandex is an Internet payment system popular in Russia, and is....