Bitcoin News

Story: Why El Salvador’s Bitcoin (BTC) law is a Disgrace and Will not End Well?

By Steven Anderson

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Jerry Britto Executive Director of CoinCenter expressed, “While I haven't been shy with my views on the El Salvador Bitcoin law, I feel I really haven't said my piece, so I'm…

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El Salvador's Bitcoin law is a disgrace. As written in statute it forces citizens to accept Bitcoins whether they want to or not. This is intuitively wrong to any liberal.

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I’m surprised that so many smart and principled people have nevertheless applauded and defended this law.

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It’s especially disappointing that in response to criticism, defenders of this law have resorted to whatabout-isms and moral equivalence.

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This will not end well. I hope its defenders will take a second look at what this law does, reflect on our shared principles, and reevaluate accordingly.”

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Brian Cohen tried to clarify stating, I think there is a general misunderstanding what it means to be legal tender.

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Community reactions were like: Why don’t you try being forced to accept dollars? Is the Too Marxist for you?? Because I love dollars.

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What if the merchant doesn’t have the means of accepting Bitcoin? What is the offense? How would you rephrase the law for Nayib Bukele.

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There are many things a government “forces” on the citizens. Of all of them, this one doesn’t cause any harm for those that oppose it (You are credited with a USD equivalent and…

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That’s an actual point. Governments force all sorts of things and this thing is able to be opted out of by a simple auto redirect - but for the country, it promises a future of…

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So they should only be forced to accept USD? Because that’s the current situation? Wrong. The USD is not a forced tender in ordinary payments in El Salvador--or anywhere!

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Summary:  The right to refuse Bitcoin in payment is pretty much the right to force the payer to use USD.

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Everything will be fine and El Salvador economy will grow as a result. Bitcoin is here to stay and everyone should accept it.

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