European Union Plan Crackdown on Bitcoin and Anonymous Payments Triggered by Paris Massacre

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After the November 13 terrorist attacks which left 129 dead in Paris, the European Union has made a call for proposals that will curb terrorist funding through nontraditional monetary systems – including the virtual currency bitcoin.

In a leaked draft document seen by Reuters early last week before the meeting, European Union countries are planning a crackdown on Bitcoin and other virtual currencies, anonymous payments made online and via pre-paid cards in a bid to tackle terrorism financing after the Paris attacks. 

The plan is to push the European Commission to propose measures to “strengthen controls of non-banking payment methods such as electronic/anonymous payments and virtual currencies and transfers of gold, precious metals, by pre-paid cards.”

Bitcoin is the most common virtual currency and is used as a vehicle for moving money around the world quickly and anonymously via the web without the need for third-party verification.

Electronic anonymous payments can be made also with pre-paid debit cards purchased in stores as gift cards.

EU ministers also plan “to curb more effectively the illicit trade in cultural goods,” the draft document said.

European Union interior and justice ministers then agreed on Friday in Brussels to tighten checks on payment methods that may be conducted anonymously and might be used by terrorist organizations to finance attacks. Not only do mainstream consumers not understand the technology, but the potential for using bitcoin for criminal activities has spooked authorities. Aside from the anonymous payment, other methods can be used too, such as the pre-paid credit cards which can also be used without any possibility of tracking.

Among the sectors under assessment, the use of virtual currencies will be subject to particular attention,” a European Commission official said, according to Reuters. 

– European Union Institute for Security Studies