American actor Sean Castin revived the long -term debate about the role of encrypted currencies in national security, with the occurrence of the argument during A. Financial Services Committee in the House of Representatives on March 5 Hearing that “friendly bases for encryption” can enable illegal financial activity.
While his statements were made in the context of the law to deter the conflict in Taiwan for the year 2025, Castan’s concerns are not new.
For years, legislators and organizers have used national security as a major argument to justify more strict restrictions on the encryption industry, although the unprecedented administration in the organization is currently happening.
Caston’s position reflects the past discourse on influential personalities such as Senator Elizabeth Warren, who often called for tougher regulations on digital assets. Warren has long maintained that the cryptocurrency is a tool for criminals, especially in ransom cases, money laundering, and evasion of penalties. In 2023, it was presented legislation It aims to expand the authority of the US Treasury to the encryption transactions of the police, noting the risks of national security.
Other prominent characters, including former Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and SEC Gary Gensler, have also raised concerns about the possible Crypto misuse. In particular, Yellen emphasized the need to increase regulatory control, warning that digital assets may undermine global financial stability if left without deterrence.
Sanctions evasion and terrorist financing: a frequent source of anxiety
The United States government has a history of referring to encryption as a tool for evading sanctions and financing terrorism. In 2022, the Treasury Department, Tornado Cash, a privacy coding mixer, claiming that it was used to wash more than $ 7 billion, including the funds associated with North Korean infiltrators. The move was a major escalation in the efforts of the United States government to reduce the use of illegal financing encryption, which enhances the perception that digital assets could pose a systematic threat.
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Likewise, in October 2023, a report issued by the US Treasury and the Finance Inclusion Network (FINCEN) suggested that terrorist groups were using by terrorist groups to transport money across the border. The report sparked renewed calls for stricter policies to combat money laundering, as it prompted some legislators to a direct ban on non -compatible privacy currencies and exchanges.
CASTEN’s comments also touched on Ransomware, a subject that was repeatedly linked to encrypted currencies. His claim that “100 % of ransom attacks are funded by a basementIt is in line with the concerns raised in the previous government’s reports. In 2021, the FBI and the Ministry of Justice have taken multiple measures on multiple ransom groups, and the recovery of millions of bitcoin from Internet criminals working in Russia and Eastern Europe.
