However, this article would be biased if I didn't also point out that privacy coins also represent a desirable financial instrument for cybercriminals to conduct their nefarious activities.

True, but criminals always seem to find the best new way to do their dealings and then only everyone else catches on the trend. In fact, the first ever trade made online was a drug trade, I wrote about it a while ago: https://steemit.com/technology/@lets-tech/history-of-tech-the-first-product-sold-online

We can't blame privacy coins or ban them just because of criminals, we need to embrace it and perfect it, remember that bitcoin was also adopted by the criminal world. The technology is out there and criminals would always have it as an option.
Fantastic post as always Hive account@techblogger