The U.S. Treasury Secretary delivered a sharp rebuke to sections of the digital asset community, labeling those who reject the necessity of comprehensive regulation as ‘nihilists’ and suggesting they should seek jurisdictions with less oversight, specifically naming El Salvador. The statement underscores the widening chasm between Washington’s view of necessary financial stability and the libertarian ethos of certain cryptocurrency proponents.
Speaking on the need for clearer legislative action—referred to generally as a ‘Clarity Act’—the Secretary argued that failure to embrace sensible regulation poses significant risks to consumer protection, market integrity, and national security. The term ‘nihilists’ targets groups that advocate for complete governmental non-intervention, viewing digital assets as tools to operate entirely outside the established global financial system, including strict adherence to anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) protocols.
The reference to El Salvador, which notably adopted Bitcoin as legal tender in 2021, serves as a rhetorical mechanism. The Secretary implied that if industry actors refuse to comply with the high standards of compliance and regulatory clarity sought by the U.S. financial system, they are welcome to operate in nations that have chosen a path of greater deregulation and inherent volatility. The U.S. government maintains that while innovation is welcomed, it cannot come at the expense of financial stability, emphasizing that digital assets must be integrated responsibly into the existing regulatory architecture.
コメント