IMF: Bitcoin Is Privately Issued Crypto With Substantial Risks, Inadvisable as Legal Tender
![IMF Says Bitcoin Is Privately Issued Crypto Inadvisable as Legal Tender](https://www.coinbloom.xyz/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/imf-bitcoin-is-privately-issued-crypto-with-substantial-risks-inadvisable-as-legal-tender.jpg)
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says that crypto assets, like bitcoin, are privately issued with substantial risks, and “Making them equivalent to a national currency is an inadvisable shortcut.” The crypto community disagrees.
IMF Claims Bitcoin Is Privately Issued Crypto With Substantial Risks, Inadvisable for Use as Legal Tender
The International Monetary Fund tweeted about crypto assets on Saturday, asserting that they are privately issued, come with substantial risks, and are inadvisable for use as legal tender. The IMF wrote: “Privately issued cryptoassets like bitcoin come with substantial risks. Making them equivalent to a national currency is an inadvisable shortcut.”
The IMF’s tweet references a blog post written on July 26 by two of its legal counsels, as Bitcoin.com News previously reported. In the blog post, titled “Cryptoassets as National Currency? A Step Too Far,” the authors warned of the risks of making bitcoin legal tender as El Salvador did. One of the concerns mentioned was that “monetary policy would lose bite,” since “Central banks cannot set interest rates on a foreign currency.”
Many people on social media mocked the IMF for calling bitcoin “privately issued.” One Twitter user pointed out that the IMF is “framing BTC (a public, open-source protocol) as a ‘privately issued’ asset to discredit its legitimacy over national currencies, which are actually privately issued.”
Some argued that fiat currencies come with more “substantial risks” than bitcoin. “Government-issued fiat assets like the U.S. dollar come with substantial risks. Especially when they are loaned out by intergovernmental organizations with a history of bankrupting countries,” one Twitter user opined.
Noting that bitcoin and crypto are competing as an international reserve asset, a third Twitter user described:
The IMF is getting nervous because companies and individuals are diversifying their wealth into bitcoin and cryptocurrencies instead of their special drawing rights (SDR).
Some people stated that the IMF is becoming an irrelevant organization. DTAP Capital founder Dan Tapiero predicted: “The IMF won’t exist within 10 years.”
What do you think about the IMF’s statement on bitcoin? Let us know in the comments section below.
Image Credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a direct offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation or endorsement of any products, services, or companies. Bitcoin.com does not provide investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Neither the company nor the author is responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article.
Read disclaimer
Comments are closed.