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In this episode, we revisited the perennial topic of digital currency regulation with Siân Jones, our regulatory correspondent and founder of the regulation-focused virtual currency consultancy COINSULT. With the final version of the BitLicense, what may turn out to be the most influential document for digital currency regulation, is now out. Besides diving into many different aspects of the onerous BitLicense, we talked about California's coming rules, how Bitcoin startups will be affected and the implications of Ripple's fine.

Topics covered included:

- A brief primer on BitLicense and the process by which it emerged

- What the key aspects of BitLicense are and how they changed through the revisions

- Why BitLicense will stifle innovation by dramatically increasing the cost and bureaucratic burden of running a digital currency startups

- How different companies are responding to the rules

- Why California's virtual currency draft bill got a lot of things right

- What Ripple got fined for and why FinCEN could go after most cryptocurrency startups for the same reasons

- The status of the European Court of Justice case on VAT

NOTE: Since the episode was recorded the advocate general at the EU Court of Justice recommended that Bitcoin be exempt from VAT.

Links mentioned in this episode:

- NY BitLicense rules and regulations http://on.ny.gov/1MikihN

- California's virtual currency draft bill http://bit.ly/1IbyJDu

- FinCEN fines Ripple Labs Inc. http://1.usa.gov/1JpYElK

- What Ripple's FinCEN fine means for the digital currency industry http://bit.ly/1KdZo0h

- Canada Senate digital currency report http://bit.ly/1Of0B89

- ECJ official proposes Bitcoin VAT exemption http://bit.ly/1Mil4eE

- Siân's company COINSULT http://bit.ly/1jrH1er

Sponsors:

- Shapeshift: Buy and sell alt coins instantly at http://ShapeShift.io

- Vaultoro: Trade gold to Bitcoin instantly and securely starting at just 1mg at http://vaultoro.com

Show notes: http://epicenterbitcoin.com/podcast/088

YouTube: https://youtu.be/e0-wA5npCXY

Epicenter Bitcoin is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain & Sébastien Couture.

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