That is absolutely true. The EU governments plan to regulate cryptocurrencies, including bitcoin, amid concerns they are being used for money laundering. government is planning to crack down on bitcoin as concerns grow that cryptocurrencies are being used to facilitate financial crimes and launder money. The Treasury is planning new legislation that will mean anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing rules apply to cryptocurrency in future.

New legislation will bring cryptocurrencies in line with anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing legislation by increasing transparency. It will include rules forcing traders to reveal their identities in some circumstances. Under an EU-wide plan, online platforms where currencies are traded will be made to carry out due diligence on buyers. The UK government is currently negotiating amendments to the fourth anti-money laundering directive that will bring virtual currency exchange platforms and custodian wallet providers into anti-money laundering and counterterrorist financing regulation, which will result in these firms' activities being overseen by national competent authorities for these areas.

We have clear tax rules for people who use cryptocurrencies, and like all tax rules, these are kept under review. We also intend to update legislation to bring virtual currency exchange platforms into anti money laundering and counter terrorist financing regulation. Industry players want the same thing as politicians - cryptocurrencies that offer cheap, frictionless, international transactions used for legal purposes. If anything, regulation will only increase bitcoin's rate of growth as regulation lends credibility and engenders trust