Trump’s policies could aid terrorist and far-right groups who use cryptocurrency to help quietly finance their ends

Summary

Donald Trump’s potential loosening of cryptocurrency regulations as president could benefit extremist groups like neo-Nazis and terrorists who use crypto for anonymous fundraising.

Far-right groups, such as the Base, already solicit Bitcoin and Monero for training and supplies, exploiting crypto’s anonymity to evade financial scrutiny.

While Biden’s administration has cracked down on crypto over national security concerns, Trump’s pro-crypto policies and appointments could accelerate extremist financing.

Analysts warn that weak private sector oversight and a lack of regulatory enforcement enable such activities, raising concerns about future abuse of cryptocurrencies.

                • Voroxpete@sh.itjust.works
                  2·
                  1 day ago

                  No, there’s good reasons to recognize people like Nazis as human.

                  Despicable, unforgivable, utterly detestable humans. But still humans.

                  It’s an important distinction, because when you say to yourself “Monstrous people aren’t human” the unspoken corollary to that is “And I’m human, therefore I cannot be a monstrous person.”

                  Dehumanizing Nazis is how Nazis get away with being Nazis. Because when they’re cartoon monsters on TV, everyone recognizes them as Nazis. But when it’s someone’s cousin or uncle, they figure “I know that guy. Yeah, he’s got some shitty opinions, but he’s not a monster. He loves his kids. He helps out at the church bake sale. So there’s no way he could actually be a Nazi, because only monsters can be Nazis.”

                  It’s incredibly important to admit to ourselves that evil can live anywhere. That it can be in anyone. It would be easier to live in a world where we could draw these clean lines between monsters and humans, but reality just isn’t like that.

                  Nazis are human beings, and that is by far the worst and most horrifying thing about them.

        • ReanuKeeves@lemm.eeEnglish
          5·
          1 day ago

          There are a lot of people who take the approach of “If I make absolutely no sense until the other person gets frustrated, that means I win”.

          Checkmate, you stupid round earth idiots

      • grue@lemmy.worldEnglish
        5·
        1 day ago

        No, fuck this. You are not entitled to make insinuations about people’s mental state just because they don’t agree with your gaslighting bullshit. You need to be banned.

        Edit: brand new account; probably evading some other ban. Get this trash out of here.

    • Fondots@lemmy.world
      3·
      17 hours ago

      Like others are saying, crypto laws are a bit murky

      In general though, it’s pretty well in agreement that you’re supposed to pay capital gains tax when you sell, I imagine that’s something they may try to do away with.

      I bought a tiny amount of Bitcoin probably a decade ago, and have basically been sitting on it ever since. It’s of course grown in value significantly since then (though we’re still only talking enough for maybe a couple nice dinners or a modest vacation, not life-changing wealth)

      Capital gains tax takes a pretty good chunk out of what I’d earn from it, don’t get me wrong, I’d still make money off of it no matter where I tried to cash out, but currently it’s hovering right around the point where I’m not sure if it’s worth the hassle of having one more thing to keep track of and figure out on my taxes for a relatively small payoff.

      If they did away with the capital gains tax on crypto, I’d probably cash out right now (and never look back, I don’t feel I need to repeat this experiment)

      I’m not saying that they should do away with capital gains on crypto, just kind of pointing out one way they could get it and how it might affect me personally.

    • NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world
      41·
      1 day ago

      Lots of companies (edit or parts of their products) have pulled out of the USA due to the lack of clarity in crypto rules. Many have been served with wells notices with the SEC claiming their breaking laws around securities, forcing settlements or making companies fight to stand up for not being a security. The ETFs took years to get approved, and it really only happened because a judge told the SEC to fuck off this year.

      The US has been crippling the US crypto industry for years. Whatever you see is happening in spite of that.

      Fuck Trump, but crypto regs are fucked in the US. Also fuck any crypto person who voted for Trump because of this. Even if he does what he says here, it’s not worth it

      Just yesterday an appeals judge finally ruled that a smart contract without admin keys (immutable code) is not property, while people are in jail or being jailed over writing them and being considered the owners.

      Edit: and even with the ETFs approved, the SEC still isn’t allowing the providers to offer them how they want. E.g they can’t stake part of the ethereum they hold to provide yield/interest even though it’s baked into how these blockchains work with proof of stake.

  • TimLovesTech (AuDHD)(he/him)@badatbeing.socialEnglish
    14·
    1 day ago

    The important part of this is Trump launching his new crypto “lending” platform they can’t explain. It’s surely to be a vessel for bribes to flow into and out of the new administration, and for all his “friends” to try and do all their shady business dealings. Allowing him to keep his new platform/fake-crypto-bank (or even his kids to proxy) while also being able to have it regulated (well apparently deregulated - although it’s already the wild west) seems like a HUGE conflict of interest/liability.