比特币:自我监管与强制法律之间的数字货币

Bitcoin-A Digital Currency between Self-Regulation and Mandatory Law

比特币已成为最具创新性和争议性的数字货币形式。它作为一种虚拟货币跨境运行,背后没有政府的支持,不具有真实货币的属性。比特币很大程度上依赖于互联网。它对所有人开放,形成了初步的组织结构,并有可能产生外部性。本文审视了比特币技术方面的内容,并根据有关(反)公地悲剧的文献评估了其治理机制。对虚拟货币的政府干预仍处于起步阶段,互联网的跨国结构和监管竞争阻碍了各国当局采取全面的监管政策。监管机构目前正在权衡私人金融网络的益处与洗钱和逃税行为的影响。虚拟货币的未来关键取决于有效率的私人秩序与打击犯罪之间的相互作用。

Bitcoin has become the most innovative and controversial form of digital money.It operates cross-border as a virtual currency without having the attributes of a real currency,since government backing is absent.Bitcoin depends crucially on the internet.It is open to everybody and has brought forth rudimentary organisational structures with the potential for creating externalities.This paper reviews the technical aspects of Bitcoin and assesses governance mechanisms in the light of the literature on the tragedy of the(anti-) commons.Government intervention into virtual currencies is still in its infancy.The transnational structure of the internet and regulatory competition preclude national authorities from pursuing a comprehensive regulatory policy.Regulators are currently assessing the benefits of private financial networks against the fall-out from money laundering and tax evasion practices.The future of the virtual currency critically depends on the interface between efficient private ordering and the fight against crime.