EU plans to crack down on Bitcoin and anonymous payment methods after Paris attacks

On November 20, Reuters reported that following the terrorist attacks in Paris, France last week, the EU Interior Minister and Justice Minister will hold an emergency meeting in Brussels on Friday to plan a crackdown on virtual currencies and anonymous payment methods. The news came from a draft document seen by Reuters.

According to the document, the EU's interior and justice ministers will urge the European Commission to come up with measures to "strengthen controls on non-bank payment methods, such as electronic/anonymous payments, virtual currencies and transactions in precious metals such as gold via prepaid cards" in an attempt to curb terrorist financing.

Earlier this week, the European Commission said it was assessing whether digital currencies such as Bitcoin could serve as a fuel for terrorist activities and money laundering.

However, last month, the UK Treasury also published a report stating that the risk of digital currencies posing money laundering and terrorist financing is the “lowest”.

Original article: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/11/19/us-france-shoooting-eu-terrorism-funding-idUSKCN0T81BW20151119#qmDpFXtSQdURkKBd.97
By Francesco Guarascio
Compiled by: Satuoxi
Editor: Satuoxi
Source (translation): Babbitt Information