Japan considers Bitcoin as legal tender

[Pekelo]

Before you touch yourself, they want it to be CENTRALIZED!

http://www.zdnet.com/article/japan-mulls-over-bitcoin-as-a-legal-currency/

"However, if these changes go ahead, virtual currency would have to be backed by a central financial authority, leading to tight controls, regulations and potentially taxation.
As an example, the FSA would require cryptocurrency exchanges and businesses dealing in virtual currency to register with the agency."

 

[botpro]

Not sure about the real intention of Japan, but I think most countries who are interessted in Bitcoin are mainly interessted in the technology behind it, ie. the Blockchain technology.
Reason is: it makes financial crimes impossible (ie. prevents corruption when spending govt funds), and the same technology can be used/applied in many other environments, esp. in government infrastructure.
Btw, Satoshi the inventor of Bitcoin is from Japan.

 

[Pekelo]

Satoshi the inventor of Bitcoin is from Japan.

I know and he likes model trains too...

Actually, the article said the government was really considering BTC as a payment method, so no, it wasn't about the blockchain. Those are companies not the government that are interested in the technology.

 

[Pekelo]

I guess this is the thread to mention: Russia considers to outlaw bitcoin:

https://www.deepdotweb.com/2016/03/14/russia-proposes-prison-time-bitcoin-activity/

"This version of the amendment is much harsher compared to the older version which sentenced the everyday bitcoin user to a year of “corrective labor” and two for the “organized groups”."

 

[wrbtrader]

Today I was online at microsoft website to buy a game for one of my kids for his Xbox 360...

I notice for the first time a "bitcoin" payment option with the other payment options that I did not notice two months ago.