A Fundamental research about the complicity of use of crypto currency and kind
of crypto currencies around the world, when there are 5 developed countries
recognized the use of bit coins while other few countries has restricted the
crypto currencies; why the value of bit coin currencies increased rapidly among
all crypto currencies, whether this crypto currencies being a alternative in
international trade for USD/Euro/Pounds etc., why might be the reasons that
Government of India take initiative to ban/regulate the Crypto currencies; the
possible impact inside / outside of India due to new regulations initiatives by
government of India; how this regulatory initiative by government of India has
seen in the eyes of with the socio-economical aspects along with latest legal
phenomena.
Introduction to Crypto Currency:
Crypto Currency is known as Crypto, has seen one of the most efficient and
unpredictable alternative digital currency found in modern era, being used
without any restrictions in various countries among the world, including Japan,
United States, South Korea, Australia and Germany; however some of the countries
including Algeria, Bolivia, Bangladesh, Macedonia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Vietnam,
Pakistan, Afghanistan has banned the crypto currencies.
This brings lot more
questions to common people, why some countries have not restricted and why some
countries have restricted? What would be the stand of the world largest
democracy on crypto currency? Before starting the brief, a few case history of
crypto currency probably give us an idea to derive a definition of crypto
currency on our own, rather than looking the definition of other inventors,
economist and jurists.
Satoshi Nakamoto, a computer programmer has started to sell a unique virtual
currencies in his block chain know as Bit Coin to public by a group in 2009 and
the group his supporters began exchanging and mining the currency via block
chain concept. The new idea of this commodity trading came into existence in
Japan, then these being recognized across the globe, where the Bit Coin,
recognized as first virtual currency or crypto currency, then slowly conquered
the western world and now tend to conquer the rest of the world in this modern
era.
The Cause and factors decide the Value:
Literature Reviews:
- Iconic difference between Crypto vs Physical Currency
When Physical Fiat Currencies has backed by the several countries through their
government, has been governed / guaranteed by the relevant government and these
currencies always fluctuates during the world economic recession; Satoshi
Nakamoto’s new ideology of virtual currency Bit Coin has been seen as
alternative currency though such currency has not backed by any such government
but guaranteed by block chain concepts, where all the users of the chain similar
to the ways such internet, email operated from cyber space and developed their
trust across the continent, where you can buy and sell the bit coin without any
restriction, no governments can seen these as immoral, no government has
objected it as illegal, until the specific block chain developed the currency as
alternative currency to modern electronic world, where the Bit Coin currency has
growth beyond the imagination of any commodity trading.
- Rapid Growth of Bit Coin, the first Crypto- Currency
If we could bought Bit Coin for 1$ in 2011, we may able to sell it for $100 in
today market, approximately the 1$ will grown 100 times from its value within 10
year, approximately 10 times growth within 1 year, where such growth nowhere
recorded in any share markets, any investment of fiat currencies in the history,
the Bit Coin recorded such growth with a short span, ultimately many of the
users started to copy cat the idea, where now approximately 5392 over virtual
currencies came into existence till date, named these currencies in general as
“Crypto Currency” in the market.
- Who are the users of crypto currencies
The developed countries such as United States has not take any steps against the
crypto currency because their citizens has seen this would be commodity trading
by knowing all risks involved; where almost 154 countries followed then, with a
trust of the said block chain.
Referred to https://news.bitcoin.com/ukraine-russia-south-africa-nigeria-cryptocurrency-adoption/ only
few of the countries like Afghanistan, Algeria, Fiji, Libya, Laos and Zimbabwe
recorded has minimum usage of Bit Coin, but United States, Russia, China, South
Africa has higher usage of Bit Coin, where almost 154 countries recorded with
the usage of Crypto Currencies, around the world, despite of any difference
neither they belongs to capitalist countries nor the democratic countries; nor
they belongs to Communist countries; nor they belongs to Dictatorship countries.
- Virtual Currency seen as commodity across globe– Reasons:
The citizens of different countries who early waiting for an alternative
currency to US$, Euro, UK Sterling, started to do the commodity trade, has found
the Bit Coin felt the virtual currency like Bit Coin, has given reorganization
at most faith in the well established block chain, there they can easily sell
and buy these Bit Coin, 24*7, 365 days without any restriction are far better
option than existing Fiat currency and these transactions would be completed in
few seconds, through their existing bank connected cards, electronic wire
transfers and; there were banks convert those instantly where the user can take
cash in ATM, where their Bit Coin has been converted to their country currency
instantly, with the subjective currency conversion on that particular minute.
These attractive virtual currency usage in world market has became most common
from east to west, the market volume of such major crypto currencies has been
calculate as
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/top-10-cryptocurrencies-market-capitalisation-160046487.html#:~:text=How%20many%20cryptocurrencies%20are%20there,of%20April%2022%2C%202020)
- Top 10 Crypto currencies rank and volume in US$
Sl. No |
Top 10 Crypto Currencies now |
Volume in Billion |
% Percentage use in World Market |
1 |
Bitcoin (BTC) |
$128 |
71.82% |
2 |
Ethereum (ETH) |
$19.4 |
10.88% |
3 |
XRP (XRP) |
$8.22 |
4.61% |
4 |
Tether (USDT) |
$6.4 |
3.59% |
5 |
Bitcoin Cash (BCH) |
$4.1 |
2.30% |
6 |
Bitcoin SV (BSV) |
$3.4 |
1.90% |
7 |
Litecoin (LTC) |
$2.6 |
1.45% |
8 |
EOS (EOS) |
$2.4 |
1.34% |
9 |
Binance Coin (BNB) |
$2.4 |
1.34% |
10 |
Tezos (XTZ) |
$1.5 |
0.84% |
|
Total Volume US$ |
$ 178.2 (Billions) |
|
There were $178.2 billion of Bit Coins spotted in the yahoo financial site on
4.2.2021, where Bit Coin remain conquered Lion share of 71.82% approximately. By
adding the other crypto currencies across the globe approximately, the total
market capitalization of $ 201 billion dollars.
Referred to https://imiblockchain.com/bitcoin-price-prediction-2020-2030/, it is
stated:
“The range of bitcoin price predictions for the next 10 years is very wide. The
Crypto Research Report has predicted bitcoin will be worth $397,000 in 2030. A
major Tesla investor has predicted that bitcoin could be worth more than $1
trillion in under 10 years”.
Analysis of Crypto Currency in eyes of various experts
- Financial experts promote- Crypto?
Though the success of crypto currencies across the world, being
appreciated by many of countries, some of the countries found the crypto
currencies usage has adverse effect in the socio-economic development and
started to ban the crypto currencies. There were many financial experts, such a
chartered accountant, cost accountants claims in the Internet/ social media,
promoting the crypto currencies by quoting that using crypto is not illegal in
India and most of the countries promoting crypto currencies. The financial
experts can view the crypto as currency for commodity rather than the virtual
currencies. Their point of you is only where there are chances for Individuals
to gain a profit while buying the crypto currency, though there are some
significant risk factors, which is common, in any and all trade. The investment
of buying a Bit Coin crypto has being recommended by thousands and thousands of
financial experts around the world.
- The judicial experts point about the crypto, why?
When many of the financial experts promoting the Crypto, the legal experts turn
and see what would be other side of the Crypto? It is not illegal to use the
crypto that does not mean it the legal, said by Professor during the online
conference, during the inter-college studies; which has brought question of law,
whether using the crypto currency is moral, what will be security when the
currency has not backed by any specific government, In case of dispute, whom to
sue, where to sue, under which law, in which court, under what jurisdiction etc.
The judicial experts across the country have clearly visualized the risks of
crypto and most of them insist to regulate the virtual crypto currencies.
- Legislators – Point of View
The impact of Bit Coin and other crypto currencies various from one country
to other, where the American found more usage of Crypto than other countries
around the world and virtue the advantage of the trade capitalization fall
bias to the capitalist country and where there is no necessity for United
States to create, regulate the crypto. But, the impact of bit coin on the
developing countries like Zimbabwe would have found adverse results where
the government banned the Crypto currencies usage. “Today is derived from
yesterday under the influence” and “where Tomorrow would be derived from
today’s Bill”. Where some of the countries would found the risks of the
currencies and, came with new bills to regulate/ban and introduce their own
currencies, where India’s new bill named, The Crypto currency and Regulation
of official currency bill 2021, probably the most expected bill in India
probably not only regulate the usage of the currency but allow the
government & private agencies to allow new crypto currencies backed block
chains with minimum guarantee for commodity trade inside the country.
Media typically catch hold viewer -Crypto Ban Bill. Would it be real?
In early 2018, It is true that the Government of India initiated a Crypto Ban
Bill base on the reports of the government agencies but the government has
changed their stand by redefining the bill by accepting the crypto trade but
regulating it due to one case law, decided by supreme court.
Therefore, now Government of India has not banning the Crypto currencies but
regulating it as suggested & directed by the Apex court. The government of India
initiated “The Crypto currency and Regulation of official currency bill
2021”. The name itself speaks about the characteristic of the bill, the
introduced bill has not intension in controlling any commodity exchange through
crypto by its exchange; but Government of India has take initiatives to regulate
the crypto currencies; make sure that citizens not being preyed by anti-social
block chains when they exchange crypto, and just make sure that the crypto
trading in India under the perusal of government monitoring agencies, not
allowing any threat to the integrity of the nation.
Supreme Court precedent that make Indian Legislatures to redefine Crypto
currency bill, the case law:
- RBI Circular 2018
The Reserve Bank of India has sent circular dated April 6, 2018, vide
RBI/2017-18/154, DBR.No.BP.BC.104 /08.13.102/2017-18, has directed all entities
under the Reserve Bank of India guideline to Prohibit the virtual currencies
(VC) transaction, as mentioned in the Para-2, of the circular:
In view of the associated risks, it has been decided that, with immediate
effect, entities regulated by the Reserve Bank shall not deal in VCs or provide
services for facilitating any person or entity in dealing with or settling VCs.
Such services include maintaining accounts, registering, trading, settling,
clearing, giving loans against virtual tokens, accepting them as collateral,
opening accounts of exchanges dealing with them and transfer / receipt of money
in accounts relating to purchase/ sale of VCs
The aforesaid circular has restrained the banks in India to deal any transaction
with respect to virtual currency and take initiative to complete ban in the
country. The Reserve Bank of India has also instructed the banks already
involved in the Virtual currency transaction to exit from such transaction
within 3 months.
The Reserve Bank of India, has quoted in the circular their conferred power in
the Para 4, as below:
These instructions are issued in exercise of powers conferred by section 35A
read with section 36(1)(a) of Banking Regulation Act, 1949, section 35A read
with section 36(1)(a) and section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949,
section 45JA and 45L of 2 the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 and Section 10(2)
read with Section 18 of Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007
- RBI Circular has been challenged in Supreme Court by a writ
The aforesaid circular has been challenged by Internet and Mobile Association of
India, under Writ Petition (Civil) 528 of 2018 before the Hon’ble Supreme Court;
The Hon’ble Justice Nariman, Hon’ble Justice Anuruddra, Justice Ramasubramanian
has given remarkable judgment on March 4, 2020.
The three judge bench has reviewed several cases laws in India, has reviewed the
various dimension of the cases studies across the globe, considering the various
government agencies & the aforesaid countries acts along with policies, has
compared various aspects on the usage of crypto, related case laws in Foreign,
as well as India, the right of citizen under article 19(1) (g) and RBI
functions, world policies in dealing/ handling crypto, all listed in the 180
pages judgment:
- Inter-Disciplinary Committee Report (Page 15)
- The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) about the usage of Crypto (Page
18)
- G-20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (Page 18)
- Banning of Cryptocurrency and 24 Regulation of Official Digital Currency
Bill, 2019 (Page 24)
- The Petitioner argument, RBI has no power to prohibit the trading in
virtual currencies (Page 33)
- The Respondent Reserve Bank arguments (Page 39)
- Functions of RBI as Central Bank (Page 44)
- Definition of VC in the view of Regulators across the globe including IMF,
ECB (European Central Bank), USA, UK Government agencies
- Definition of VC in the view of non statutory in various countries (18
over countries), and with refer to the specified acts (page 75)
- Case decided by foreign courts on crypto currencies (Page 94)
- Case laws decided in Indian Courts (Page 108)
- Light Touch approach of other countries (Page 134)
- Right to Trade under Article 19(1) (g) of Indian Constitution (Page 143)
- Discidium Internet Labs Pvt, Ltd. Suggested safe guard measure
- Supreme Court set aside the RBI Circular on the grounds of
proportionality (Page 178)
- Judgment of Hon’ble Supreme Court
The aforesaid judgment has referred in the link:
https://main.sci.gov.in/supremecourt/2018/19230/19230_2018_4_1501_21151_Judgement_04-Mar-2020.pdf
The judgment Proportionality as Constitutional Right under Article 19(1)(g) “to
practise any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade or business”,
7.1. Therefore, in the light of the above discussion, the petitioners are
entitled to succeed and the impugned Circular dated 06-04-2018 is liable to be
set aside on the ground of proportionality. Accordingly, the writ petitions are
allowed and the Circular dated 06- 04-2018 is set aside. The Statement dated
05-04-2018, though challenged in one writ petition, is not in the nature of a
statutory direction and hence the question of setting aside the same does not
arise.
Once again, Supreme Court of India has conferred the right of citizen to trade &
Citizens fundamental right could not be taken by any government. The judgment
can be library for Indian Legislatures to what to consider on crypto currencies
where the said currencies already established, mined, recorded a unique trade
exchange, and unavoidable virtual currency to various countries, hence Indian
legislatures has modified the bills now to regulate it by considering the
following aspects inside & outside the scope of the judgment and try to bring
the bill to reasonable restriction in “The Crypto currency and Regulation of
official currency bill 2021”.
What legislators point to consider in the new crypto bill?
Though several reasons may revealed by the legislatures for regulating the
currencies for its vast socio-economic and defense aspects; some reasonable
predictions stated below possibly the primary reasons for the government of
India by analyzing the complete case study of crypto currencies and it’s impact
around the world by its economist, judicial advisors, financial departments to
take a decision to pass a bill to regulate the Crypto in India, cause the crypto
currency fall nearly predicted, approximately reasonable decrease in Bit Coin;
also the cause reasonable fluctuation in the value of all crypto currencies
around the world. Government of India, has give the ban plan, now trying to
regulate the crypto in the interest of citizen and welfare of the country; as a
preventive measures; what are those consideration factors? Those listed as:
- Cyber Terrorism
The aforesaid attractive growth in the virtual currency market, has also created
an ant fire competition, where many of unknown block chains, backed by several
unauthorized groups for trading their crypto currencies, where they might used
these for anti social activities such as cyber terrorism, drug deals, weapon
trade and human trafficking; where these commodity trade might not be instantly
spotted by any government agencies.
- Cyber Crimes
The new unregulated block chain crypto currencies gone viral, and some of
financial experts wrongly directing the people to purchase some of self
generated block chain crypto currencies which would an alternative of Bit Coins,
by misleading the investors and obtained their consent of market risks, where
these citizen literally in screwed; since the commodity trade is a investment
after knowing the market risk, there were no specific laws yet; other than
Information Technology (Amendment Act) 2018, which does not cover the area of
virtual currency in detail.
- Ensuring No Revenue Losses to government due to crypto use
The revenue of the country mainly came from the taxes and the upcoming crypto
exchanges in commodity trade would not fall under perusal of government agencies
directly and these kind of situation may be taken as guaranteed by the block
chain users to do any trade without paying any taxes to the government.
- Ensure Crypto not used against the Government Economic policies
The crypto currencies backed up by block chains, most of those currencies
has being backed up genuine block chain where those currencies completely a
challenge to the government’s physical currencies, where some rebel
communities may upheld this kind of currencies to trade among them and
ignoring the fiat currency of the said country and government may not obtain
any taxes over the trade, may not enforce the levis, etc. Typically Crypto
war can be threat to country’s economy and also threat to integrity of the
nation.
- Need for Govt. initiate law to protect it’s citizens from Crypto
crimes
The Government of India’s Indian Penal Code 1860 (Amendment Act 2013), has seen
the bible of criminal law, along with the Indian Contract Act 1872 (Amendment
Act 2017) and where, Information and Technology Act 2000 (Amendment Act 2018)
would be seen as supplementary for controlling the cyber offences but not
absolute enough to resist the cyber crimes on trading; where the country
required some law for protecting the citizens by setting a regulations to ensure
these virtual currency and commodity exchanges would not be the place to
suffocate the citizen, also protect the nation from economic offences.
Expectation
Beyond all the other scope, the Government of India has to follow the direction
by Supreme Court judgment in the above decided case. Hence, the Government of
India, new bill expected to be the most important bill of this decade and may be
followed by some other countries, may impact various organizations and block
chains, and also cause reasonable change in the investment of crypto. Such
important bill has not only decides the fortune of any crypto user, but also
decide the economic destiny of country.
Award Winning Article Is Written By: Mr.Ravikumar Vellingiri B.A.LL.B (Hons)
I am trying to obtain your feedback of this article and you may post you feed
back: Email:
[email protected]
Authentication No: FB105026098208-19-0221
|
Please Drop Your Comments