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When Government clearly states something isn't legal people automatically assume that means it's illegal.
They didn't say it isn't legal. "legal" and "legal tender" are totally different things
If something is not legal, then it's illegal. If someone tried to pass off bitcoins to you as legal tender they could be charged as the tender isn't legal (aka is illegal).
only in the same sense that if someone tried to pass off ROCKS to you AS Legal Tender it would be a crime of FRAUD (it would NOT be a crime of using illegal tender).
OTOH if you traded ROCKS for good or services without the fraud/lie of claiming it was Legal Tender, it would NOT BE A CRIME.
now go back to above and substitute "BTC" for "ROCKS" and may be you're get the idea.
IOW we can trade ANY item for any other item - legally.