Crime of illegal operation of virtual currency on network platfo
(1) at present, there is no regulation to regulate the trading platform, but the trading platform should also fulfill the audit obligation. For example, when online trading various network virtual currencies, it should audit whether the currency is a network virtual currency based on blockchain technology
(2) if the trading platform knows that the online trading currency is suspected of MLM, but in order to collect Commission, it also provides trading services for the currency and promotes its development, once the currency is identified as MLM, the trading platform may have to bear certain legal liabilities
(3) at the same time, a large number of customers' funds are stored in the accounts of virtual currency trading institutions. However, all online virtual currency trading institutions are not qualified to absorb public funds, which makes trading institutions face the potential risk of illegal fund-raising
the 2017 version of the guide to the identification of internet pyramid selling (hereinafter referred to as the guide) lists several differences between virtual currency and pyramid selling currency:
(1) from the perspective of issuing mode, virtual currency does not rely on specific monetary institutions, it is a decentralized issuing mode according to specific algorithms; The MLM currency is mainly issued by a certain institution, and the profit is made by pulling the head
(2) from the perspective of transaction mode, virtual currency is a kind of sporadic transaction spontaneously formed by the market. After the scale is formed, the transaction is graally completed by a third party establishing an exchange, while MLM currency is issued by an institution and traded on its own platform
(3) from the perspective of implementation, virtual currency itself is an open source program, while the open source of MLM currency is completely ing other people's open source code, and there is no use of open source code to build programs, which is essentially controlled by the website as Q coin.
It is illegal to issue virtual currency privately
According to Article 29 of the regulations of the people's Republic of China on the administration of RMB, no unit or indivial is allowed to print or sell token tickets to replace RMB in circulation on the market In addition, the "emergency notice of the State Council Office for rectifying unhealthy tendencies in the instry, the State Economic and Trade Commission and the people's Bank of China on prohibiting the issuance and use of various token certificates (cards)" also strictly prohibited similar issues 
extended data
virtual currency refers to non real currency. Well known virtual currencies, such as online currency of Internet company, q-coin of Tencent company, q-point and voucher of Shanda company, micro currency launched by Sina (used for micro games, Sina reading, etc.), chivalrous Yuanbao (used for chivalrous road game), silver grain (used for bixue Qingtian game), and popular digital currencies in 2013 include bitcoin, Laite coin, infinite coin, quark coin, zeta coin, etc Barbecue coins, pennies (Internet), invisible gold bars, red coins, prime coins. At present, hundreds of digital currencies are issued all over the world. Popular in the circle & quot; The legend of "bitcoin, Wright silver, infinite copper, pennies aluminum"
market formation
the Internet has led to the emergence of a new market, which is a virtual market based on cyberspace. The Internet provides a lot of communication places for consumers, and also provides business market for enterprises. Enterprises must change from proct centered to service centered to customer centered. With the development of computer artificial intelligence technology and database technology, enterprises can conveniently collect customers' information, understand customers' needs in time, change business strategies and grasp economic arteries in real time
With the rapid development of computer and network communication technology, the application of Internet technology has graally penetrated into various fields of human activities, and the unlimited business opportunities that it contains make businesses turn their eyes to e-commerce. E-commerce is penetrating into all aspects of social and economic life at a speed that people can hardly imaginethe traditional finance is also closely watching this irresistible trend of global economic integration and networking. As a result, value-added services take art as the selling point and can be regarded as commodities; The sword in the game is not a brand-new financial services business philosophy - e-finance came into being
from the historical development process, to understand e-finance, we must start from the electronic finance and e-commerce. The so-called e-financialization means that financial enterprises adopt modern communication, computer, network and other information technology means in addition to Internet technology to improve the work efficiency of traditional financial service business, rece operating costs, realize the automation of financial business processing, informatization of financial enterprise management and scientific decision-making, and provide customers with faster and more convenient services, And then enhance the financial enterprise is the behavior of market competitive advantage
e-finance is a transcendence of financial electronization. Different from the electronic finance, the main technical basis of e-finance operation is the increasingly perfect Internet technology. Due to the characteristics of global connectivity, openness, quickness and low marginal cost of Internet technology, e-finance strengthens the restructuring and innovation of financial services business based on Internet technology, so that customers are free from the restrictions of business hours and places, and enjoy all kinds of high-quality and low-cost services provided by financial enterprises anytime and anywhere
with the development of Internet, the form of money is becoming more virtual, and there is an electronic money that only exists in the form of electronic signal
reference source: Network: virtual currency
although the management of virtual currency is difficult, it can be regulated and punished according to the banking law, criminal law and other relevant laws and regulations for example, the people's Bank of China stipulates that financial institutions and Payment institutions are not allowed to handle settlement for virtual currency, so there is no trading market for virtual currency in China. However, although there is no settlement market in China, virtual currency may choose to settle overseas, because virtual currency is attached to the Internet and can settle in any country and it will be more difficult to manage by building a virtual currency trading platform in a foreign website for people to trade. In China, there are also some third-party payment institutions that secretly provide settlement services for virtual currency, which brings some difficulties to supervision at present, formal payment and settlement institutions are not allowed to provide settlement channels for virtual currency transactions, but informal institutions may still provide settlement services secretly. Even if the informal institutions are cleaned up, some people may choose to go abroad to carry out similar acts extended information: for the supervision of virtual currency, we should focus on preventing any form of virtual currency from replacing the function of RMB and engaging in illegal acts through virtual currency, that is, strengthening the supervision of the function and use of virtual currency. We should focus on whether virtual currency is used as currency, not only from the object form of currency to see whether it belongs to forgery and alteration of RMB any object exercising monetary function within the territory of the people's Republic of China violates the relevant provisions of the law of the people's Bank of China. The virtual currency in the form of code, as long as it is used as currency, is equivalent to counterfeit currency in nature. It can be supervised and punished according to the law of the people's Bank of China and the criminal law source of reference: People's Daily - experts in cracking down on virtual currency transactions in many places: key regulatory functions
at present, the disorder of bitcoin trading in China needs to be cleaned up and rectified. This kind of clean-up and rectification has sufficient legal basis
1. The "transaction" and "circulation use" of bitcoin violate the law of the people's Bank of China of the people's Republic of China. Article 16 of the law clearly stipulates that "the legal currency of the people's Republic of China is RMB", and the institution that "issues RMB and manages the circulation of RMB" is unique, that is, the people's Bank of China; Article 20 stipulates that "no unit or indivial may print or sell token tickets to replace RMB in circulation on the market.". In fact, bitcoin has the function of "token", and the network platforms and merchants that conct bitcoin transactions have violated the provisions of the law, which should be investigated and dealt with in accordance with the law
2. Bitcoin's "trading" and "circulation and use" violate the foreign exchange regulations. Article 3 of the regulations clearly defines that "foreign exchange refers to the following payment means and assets expressed in foreign currency that can be used for international settlement, including foreign currency payment vouchers or payment instruments, including bills, bank deposit certificates, bank cards, etc.". Article 8 clearly stipulates that "the circulation of foreign currency is prohibited within the territory of the people's Republic of China, and foreign currency shall not be used for valuation and settlement.". Article 45 clearly stipulates: "those who buy or sell foreign exchange without permission, in disguised form, buy or resell foreign exchange, or illegally introce foreign exchange to buy or sell a large amount of foreign exchange shall be given a warning by the foreign exchange administration, their illegal income shall be confiscated, and a fine of less than 30% of the illegal amount shall be imposed; If the circumstances are serious, a fine of not less than 30% of the illegal amount shall be imposed; If a crime is constituted, criminal responsibility shall be investigated according to law. ". Bitcoin, as an international means of payment recognized by many countries, should be subject to the regulation. Websites and businesses engaged in bitcoin trading and use should be investigated and dealt with in accordance with the regulation< Third, bitcoin does not belong to the "virtual currency" defined in Chinese laws and regulations. Many bitcoin trading platforms claim to operate legally according to the relevant laws and regulations of China's "virtual currency", which is wrong. In 2009, the Ministry of culture and the Ministry of Commerce issued the notice on strengthening the management of virtual currency of online games, which clearly defined: "the virtual currency of online games mentioned in this Notice refers to the virtual currency of online games issued by online game operation enterprises, which is directly or indirectly purchased by game users using legal tender in a certain proportion, and exists outside the game program, It is a virtual exchange tool that is stored in the server provided by online game operators in the form of electromagnetic records and expressed in specific digital units. " The "notice" also makes it clear that "the use scope of online game virtual currency is limited to the virtual services provided by the issuing enterprise itself, and shall not be used to pay for, purchase physical procts or exchange for any procts and services of other enterprises". Bitcoin is not issued by game enterprises, and it can be exchanged for physical and currency. It can be seen that bitcoin is completely different from this kind of "virtual currency" and does not belong to the "virtual currency" stipulated by law. Even if it is engaged in the trading service platform business of "virtual currency", it is necessary to apply to the cultural authorities for the establishment of an operating Internet cultural unit for administrative license in accordance with the provisions. In the application report, it is necessary to specify the service (platform) mode, user purchase method (including cash, bank card, online payment and other purchase methods), user rights and interests protection measures, user's rights and interests protection measures Binding of user account and real name bank account, technical security measures, etc
so far, no bitcoin trading platform has obtained and is unlikely to obtain such administrative license
4. Bitcoin trading platform violates the telecommunication management regulations such as the telecommunication management regulations and the measures for the administration of Internet information services, which constitutes "illegal business operation"
Article 7 of the regulations on the administration of telecommunications clearly stipulates that "the State implements a licensing system for the operation of telecommunications business according to the classification of telecommunications business. In order to operate telecommunication business, a telecommunication business license issued by the competent department of information instry under the State Council or the telecommunication administrative agency of a province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the central government must be obtained in accordance with the provisions of these regulations. No organization or indivial may engage in telecommunications business without a telecommunications business license. " Internet information service is one of the value-added telecommunication services restricted by the law Article 4 of the measures for the administration of Internet information services stipulates that "the State shall implement a licensing system for operating Internet information services; The non operating Internet information service shall be put on record. Those who have not obtained permission or have not gone through the filing proceres shall not engage in Internet information services. " Bitcoin trading platform collects "transaction fees" or "withdrawal fees" or engages in "related advertising business", which belongs to "operating" Internet information service business
bitcoin trading platform has neither obtained nor is it possible to obtain "operating license for operating Internet information service business", and some websites have not even put it on record. This behavior constitutes "illegal business operation" according to law, and should be investigated and dealt with according to law< 5. Those who use bitcoin to engage in gambling, money laundering, bribery, fund-raising fraud and other illegal acts shall be punished in accordance with the relevant provisions of the criminal law of the people's Republic of China. Bitcoin's "value function" and "use function" make it become the "object element" of criminal behavior, and the criminal behavior related to bitcoin should not be placed outside the legal jurisdiction
no one can say for sure what the future of bitcoin will be. However, under the current financial management system of "foreign exchange can not be freely circulated and exchanged" in China, with the high incidence of corruption and economic crimes, it is impossible to seek the legitimacy of bitcoin trading platform, and it is sooner or later to clean up and rectify bitcoin trading platform. However, the sooner things come, the better. If they are delayed, more bitcoin trading platforms will collapse, more "investors" will lose all their money, and a large number of cases of "illegal business operation crime", "illegal fund-raising crime" and "fund-raising fraud" will be investigated to quell public indignation
if the relevant authorities think these bitcoin trading platforms are legal, they should also make a clear statement to give the operators of the relevant platforms a "talisman" to avoid "settling accounts in the future"
quoted from lawyer leiteng's blog
1、 (1) the virtual currency of online games mentioned in this Notice refers to the virtual currency issued by online game operators, which is purchased directly or indirectly by game users using legal tender in a certain proportion, and exists outside the game program and stored in the server provided by online game operators in the form of electromagnetic recording, And a virtual exchange tool expressed in specific digital units. Online game virtual currency is used to exchange the online game services provided by the issuing enterprise within a specified scope and within a specified time. It is expressed in the form of prepaid recharge card, prepaid amount or points, but does not include the game props obtained in the game activities
(2) cultural administrative departments should strictly enforce market access and strengthen the management of online game virtual currency issuers and online game virtual currency trading service providers. Those engaged in the business of "online game virtual currency issuing service" and "online game virtual currency trading service" shall be managed in accordance with the "decision of the State Council on Setting Administrative License for administrative examination and approval items that really need to be retained" (Order No. 412 of the State Council) and the "Interim Provisions on the administration of Internet culture". All enterprises providing the above two services must meet the relevant conditions for the establishment of operational Internet cultural units, apply to the provincial cultural administrative department where the enterprises are located, and report to the Ministry of culture for examination and approval after the initial examination by the provincial cultural administrative department“ Online game virtual currency issuing enterprises refer to online game operation enterprises that issue and provide virtual currency service“ "Online game virtual currency transaction service enterprise" refers to the enterprise that provides platform service for online game virtual currency transaction among users. The same enterprise shall not operate the above two businesses at the same time
(3) in addition to submitting relevant materials in accordance with the law, enterprises applying to engage in the business of "online game virtual currency issuance service" must submit the form of virtual currency expression, scope of issuance, unit purchase price, return method at the time of service termination, user purchase method (including cash, bank card, online payment, etc.) in the business development report User rights protection measures, technical security measures, etc< (4) engaging in the business of "online game virtual currency trading service" must comply with the relevant provisions of the competent department of Commerce on e-commerce (platform) services. In addition to the materials submitted in accordance with the law, such enterprises should submit the service (platform) mode, user purchase method (including cash, bank card, online payment and other purchase methods), user rights protection measures, user account binding with real name bank account, technical security measures, etc. in the business development report< (5) enterprises that have engaged in online game virtual currency issuing or trading services shall apply to the cultural administration department for relevant business operations within three months from the date of printing and distributing this circular. Those who fail to apply within the time limit shall be investigated and dealt with by the cultural administrative department in accordance with the Interim Provisions on the administration of Internet culture. A of the approval document from the cultural administration department shall be sent to the Ministry of Commerce and the people's Bank of China< (6) online game operators should issue appropriate amount of online game virtual currency according to their own business conditions and proct operations. Malicious issuance for the purpose of occupying prepaid funds is strictly prohibited. The total amount of virtual currency issued by online game operation enterprises shall be submitted to the provincial cultural administrative department of the place where the enterprise is located on a quarterly basis
(7) except for legal currency purchase, online game operators shall not provide online game virtual currency to users in any other way. When issuing online game virtual currency, online game operators must keep users' recharge records. The storage period of the record shall not be less than 180 days from the date of user recharge< (8) the use of online game virtual currency is limited to the virtual services provided by the issuing enterprise itself, and shall not be used to pay for or purchase physical procts or exchange for any procts or services of other enterprises< (9) online game operators should take necessary measures and complaint handling proceres to protect the legitimate rights and interests of users, and explain them in a prominent position on the website where the enterprise provides services to users
(x) in case of disputes in the use of virtual currency in online games, the user shall present a valid personal identity card consistent with the registered identity information. After verifying the identity of users, online game operators should provide virtual currency recharge and transfer records, and handle them according to the complaint handling proceres. When the legitimate rights and interests of users are infringed, online game operators should actively assist in obtaining evidence and coordinating solutions< (11) if an online game operator plans to terminate the provision of its procts and services, it shall make an announcement 60 days in advance. When the service is terminated, for the virtual currency that the user has purchased but has not used, the online game operator must return it to the user in legal currency or other ways accepted by the user
if the online game service is interrupted continuously for 30 days e to the stop of service access, technical failure and other reasons of the online game operation enterprise, it shall be deemed to be terminated
(12) online game operation enterprises shall not change the unit purchase price of online game virtual currency. When new types of virtual currency are issued, they shall report to the cultural administration department for record according to the materials listed in Article 3 of this circular
(XIII) if online game operators do not support online game virtual currency transactions, they should take technical measures to prohibit the transfer function of online game virtual currency between user accounts
(14) when providing online game virtual currency related transaction services, online game virtual currency transaction service enterprises must require sellers to register with their real names by using valid identity documents, and require them to bind domestic bank accounts consistent with the real name registration information. Online game virtual currency transaction service enterprises must keep relevant transaction records and accounting records among users, and the retention period shall not be less than 180 days from the date of transaction< (15) online game virtual currency trading service enterprises should establish accountability system and technical measures for illegal transactions, strictly screen the authenticity of trading information, and prohibit illegal transactions. Knowing that the virtual currency of online games is illegally obtained or reported and verified, the false transaction information should be deleted and the transaction service should be terminated in time< (16) online game virtual currency trading service enterprises shall not provide trading services for minors
(17) online game virtual currency issuing enterprises and transaction service enterprises should actively take measures to protect personal information security. When relevant departments investigate according to law, they must actively cooperate and provide relevant records
(18) if online game operators provide virtual currency transfer services between users, they should take technical measures to keep the transfer records, and the relevant records should be kept for no less than 180 days< (19) all localities should cooperate with the public security organs to strictly punish online games with gambling color in accordance with the requirements of the notice on regulating the operation order of online games and banning gambling with online games (GTZ [2007] No. 3) issued by the Ministry of public security, the Ministry of culture and other departments, We will severely crack down on the illegal and criminal activities of gambling by using the virtual currency of online games
(20) online game operators are not allowed to allocate game props or virtual currency by drawing lots, betting, random selection and other accidental means on the premise that users directly invest cash or virtual currency
(21) online game virtual currency issuing and trading service enterprises should actively cooperate with the management department and take technical measures to crack down on "number theft", "private service" and "plug-in"
(22) the Ministry of culture shall notify the people's Bank of China of online payment services provided on the "private service" and "plug-in" websites of online games recognized by the Ministry of culture< (23) the cultural administrative departments at or above the provincial level shall investigate and deal with the enterprises that engage in the issuance and trading services of online game virtual currency without permission in accordance with the Interim Provisions on the administration of Internet culture
(24) for the online game virtual currency issuing and trading service enterprises that violate the requirements of this circular, the cultural administrative department and the competent commercial department shall notify them to rectify within a time limit. Those who fail to rectify within the time limit shall be investigated and dealt with by relevant departments according to law
(25) establish a coordination mechanism for the management of virtual currency in online games, and intensify the crackdown on illegal activities such as "number theft", "private service", "plug-in", illegal profits, money laundering, etc. All departments should regularly communicate, coordinate and cooperate with each other, timely report the relevant situation, and do a good job in the management of online game virtual currency within their respective responsibilities
(26) the online game virtual currency issued by the online game operation enterprise shall not coincide with the name of the props in the game. The administrative provisions for props in online games shall be formulated separately by the cultural administrative department of the State Council in conjunction with relevant departments
notice is hereby given<
Ministry of culture
Ministry of Commerce
June 4, 2009