Don't get me wrong, I'm very excited about bitcoin, but I think the Feds are not going to be happy.  If somebody there is knowledgable about this, and thinks I'm wrong let me know.  If they'll lock a guy up for making silver coins, I don't think they're going to be very accomodating to bitcoin. The Feds move slow, but when they move watch out!  Can bitcoin survive regardless?  I hope so. 


http://investmentwatchblog.com/nc-man-convicted-for-making-selling-own-silver-coins/

Article I, section 8, clause 5 of the United States Constitution delegates to Congress the power to coin money and to regulate the value thereof. This power was delegated to Congress in order to establish and preserve a uniform standard of value and to insure a singular monetary system for all purchases and debts in the United States, public and private. Along with the power to coin money, Congress has the concurrent power to restrain the circulation of money which is not issued under its own authority in order to protect and preserve the constitutional currency for the benefit of all citizens of the nation. It is a violation of federal law for individuals, such as von NotHaus, or organizations, such as NORFED, to create private coin or currency systems to compete with the official coinage and currency of the United States.