RBI Reiterates Its Concerns Over Bitcoins And Cryptocurrencies

RBI Reiterates Its Concerns Over Bitcoins And Cryptocurrencies

SUMMARY

The SC Has Issued Notice To RBI And Govt. Ministries Seeking Explanation For Unnecessary Delay In Regulation

After Finance Minister of India Arun Jaitley made it clear that the centre doesn’t recognise the use of Bitcoins and other cryptocurrencies as a legal affair, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has reissued its warning pertaining to cryptocurrencies.

In its statement, released on December 5, 2017, RBI said, “Attention of members of public is drawn to the Press Release issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on December 24, 2013, cautioning users, holders and traders of Virtual Currencies (VCs) including Bitcoins regarding the potential economic, financial, operational, legal, customer protection and security related risks, associated in dealing with such VCs.”

In its press release dated February 1, 2017, RBI had also clarified that it has not given any licence/authorisation to any entity/company to operate such schemes or deal with Bitcoin or any other virtual currency.

“In the wake of significant spurt in the valuation of many VCs and rapid growth in Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), RBI reiterates the concerns conveyed in the earlier press releases,” read the statement.

Last week, while addressing the press on GDP growth figures in the second quarter, Jaitley responded to query on why the government is not clarifying its stance on cryptocurrencies, given that Bitcoin reached a new height of $11,704, saying, “You are 24-hour late, the price has since fallen significantly. As far as the Indian government’s stance is concerned, we have not given any legitimacy to cryptocurrency. Yes, we have received the report, and it is under examination.”

The developments have come at a time when the Supreme Court of India has issued notice to the Ministries of Finance, Law and Justice, IT, SEBI and the RBI while hearing a plea filed by petitioner Dwaipayan Bhowmick seeking a Bitcoin regulatory frame. In its 43-page petition, Bhowmick has sought explanations regarding the delay over regulatory frameworks. The petition says, “Lack of any concrete mechanism pending the regulatory framework in said regard has left a lot of vacuum and which has resulted in total unaccountability and unregulated Bitcoin (cryptocurrency) trading and transactions. For the delay in such a situation has the seed that can cause grave financial implication on the economy of the country. It is pertinent to mention herein that emerging trend of crypto money if unchecked and unregulated is a threat to exchequers money and financial sovereignty of the country.”

Once a developers’ and miners’ darling, Bitcoins and other cryptocurrencies like Ethereum, Bitcoins Cash and Ripple are the new sensations among the Venture Capitalists, traders and startups. While the technology behind the cryptocurrencies i.e. blockchain has already been widely accepted across the globe, Bitcoins along with its younger brothers are now gaining ground, which could, in turn, challenge conventional currency as well as the economy too.

Note: We at Inc42 take our ethics very seriously. More information about it can be found here.

You have reached your limit of free stories
Become An Inc42 Plus Member

Become a Startup Insider in 2024 with Inc42 Plus. Join our exclusive community of 10,000+ founders, investors & operators and stay ahead in India’s startup & business economy.

2 YEAR PLAN
₹19999
₹7999
₹333/Month
Unlock 60% OFF
Cancel Anytime
1 YEAR PLAN
₹9999
₹4999
₹416/Month
Unlock 50% OFF
Cancel Anytime
Already A Member?
Discover Startups & Business Models

Unleash your potential by exploring unlimited articles, trackers, and playbooks. Identify the hottest startup deals, supercharge your innovation projects, and stay updated with expert curation.

RBI Reiterates Its Concerns Over Bitcoins And Cryptocurrencies-Inc42 Media
How-To’s on Starting & Scaling Up

Empower yourself with comprehensive playbooks, expert analysis, and invaluable insights. Learn to validate ideas, acquire customers, secure funding, and navigate the journey to startup success.

RBI Reiterates Its Concerns Over Bitcoins And Cryptocurrencies-Inc42 Media
Identify Trends & New Markets

Access 75+ in-depth reports on frontier industries. Gain exclusive market intelligence, understand market landscapes, and decode emerging trends to make informed decisions.

RBI Reiterates Its Concerns Over Bitcoins And Cryptocurrencies-Inc42 Media
Track & Decode the Investment Landscape

Stay ahead with startup and funding trackers. Analyse investment strategies, profile successful investors, and keep track of upcoming funds, accelerators, and more.

RBI Reiterates Its Concerns Over Bitcoins And Cryptocurrencies-Inc42 Media
RBI Reiterates Its Concerns Over Bitcoins And Cryptocurrencies-Inc42 Media
You’re in Good company