Let's remember how it all began. February of far 2014. State of Florida, USA A certain Pascal Reid, together with his “colleague” Michel Espinoza, is accused for the first time in US history of laundering money using bitcoins. Unprecedented! Is it really possible to launder Internet money that cannot even be supported in your hands? Can! And these guys were one of the first to prove it.
The detained Pascal nevertheless admitted his guilt, and the prosecutor sentenced him to a probationary term, provided that the professional, Mr. Reid, will “train” law enforcement agencies in the cryptocurrency system. Introductory course, so to speak.
Second, but not least, Comrade Michel Espinosa was accused of illegally transferring and laundering bitcoins worth $ 1,500. In 2016, fortunately for Michel, the Florida court ruled that Bitcoin is not a monetary unit. The charges were dropped, to the indignation of the public.
In 2017, lawmakers proposed adding the concept of “virtual currency” to the money laundering legislation. But you know what’s most interesting? These formulations are still being agreed upon. “Lawmakers at the state level are faced with something that was not there before.”
