Views of different nations on Cryptocurrency and Blockchain

It is also significant for companies in the space like IBM, Amazon, JPMorgan Chase, and Microsoft because they have been the leaders in their respective industries. One of these nations is China which recently announced it would not ban cryptocurrencies but remains heavily cautious toward cryptocurrency-related technology.

China sets an example against potential bitcoin regulation as they continue to pursue blockchain implementations and cryptocurrency systems. The country’s largest exchange, BTCC, has asked the public to send bitcoin withdrawals legally, considering their ban on trading Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. However, the nation has not yet made any official announcement regarding cryptocurrency regulations or bans.

The world’s largest blockchain consortium teamed with a Chinese firm to launch a platform that helps banks trade financial derivatives with blockchain technology. USA-based R3 is forming a partnership with China’s top technology company FCoin for its global platform for banks and financial institutions to use distributed ledger technology (DLT) like Bitcoin to trade financial products like swaps and bonds, but in 2021 China banned every process related to cryptocurrencies. Let’s discuss the views of different countries on bitcoin and blockchain.

United States:

In the United States, a Blockchain Caucus was formed by Tom Emmer, who is a US representative of the Republican party. The caucus’s main objective includes educating Congress and helping them understand how distributed ledger technology can transform federal agencies and policies and how it could influence American jobs. In 2017, Rep. Emmer introduced two bills in Congress to support blockchain technology users and developers.

Many states have taken an interest in blockchain-related technologies: Texas, Arizona, and Ohio have already started rewarding people for executing smart contracts on public blockchains or for performing work for a brilliant contract execution on a public blockchain, in the case of Ohio. In addition, the country has been taking a clear positive stance towards digital currencies and distributed ledger technology, and there is no prohibition on using these currencies.

France:

Permission to use bitcoin in France is granted by the Banque de France and is a requirement before any merchant can accept it as payment. The central bank urges citizens to beware of illicit use of digital currencies but does not explicitly make any statements about Bitcoin. In January 2018, the Bank of France gave an opinion that said that Bitcoin “is a financial investment” rather than a currency. Anything financial usually is considered legal in France under the country’s civil code and, therefore, cannot be tied to criminal activity.

United Kingdom:

Before January 2013, UK banks could only provide limited transaction services for companies using cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin. They were prohibited from giving loans, paying salaries with cryptocurrencies, or holding cryptocurrency-related accounts. However, in January 2018, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced that it would change its position and allow banks to serve cryptocurrency firms.

Japan:

In April 2017, the Financial Services Agency of Japan ordered two exchanges to suspend operations for a month due to inadequate systems and internal controls. The Japanese government is considering changes to existing regulations through which they will be able to implement more practical and transparent rules for local crypto users.

Germany:

Germany has recently provided a favourable environment for digital currencies and bitcoin. However, in the summer of 2021, many of the country’s largest banks announced that they would stop offering any services related to bitcoin. In addition, the country’s minister for Finance has announced that Bitcoin is not a legal tender and is not protected by any law. This announcement has made it challenging to use cryptocurrency-related services, even in Germany.

The government also believes that Bitcoin is a “high-risk asset” which could “endanger consumers and investors because there is no central issuer or clearing house” and therefore also “risks arising from its price volatility”.

Italy:

Italy has a different approach to cryptocurrency regulation. The country offers a self-regulatory body called “Autorità Garante Della Concorrenza e Del Mercato” or the “competent authority”, which includes legal and technical experts, financial regulators, and the central bank. The body has a wide range of powers to monitor, investigate, and enforce the law on anti-competitive practices in the sector. Cryptocurrencies are not explicitly banned by law in Italy but should not be used for illegal purposes such as money laundering or financing terrorism.

India:

In April 2017, the central bank of India stated that people should not use cryptocurrency for their operations as it is not legal tender. The government also stated that people could use cryptocurrencies like bitcoin to launder money and finance terrorism. In October 2017, the Indian Supreme Court ruled against the regulation of cryptocurrencies, stating that the existing laws are adequate. In 2021, India passed a cryptocurrency taxation scheme, imposing 30% on every capital gain from digital currencies.