Interesting article on how the American legal system is cracking down on use of the bitcoin for illegal purposes. I see this as similar to the way in which industrial media has responded to the threat of networked media by attempting to copyright and place regulations on every bit of content they own on the web. I’m not one to encourage unlawful behaviour, so in this case I think regulating the bitcoin is a positive. However, I find it fascinating that in a world of rampant internet piracy and the ability to foster anonymous online identities, the digitalisation of information also leaves a significant ‘paper trail’ (ironically named). The bitcoin claims to be anonymous for its users, but it is still able to be monitored. So it would seem that cold hard physical cash is still the most effective means of transacting illegal activities… Live long The Sopranos.