Interesting development with regards to how digital currencies are regulated and monitored...
As stated in this Coindesk.com article:
"Announced late Monday, the SEC's Cyber Crime Unit will go after "misconduct perpetrated using the dark web," where bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are used to pay for illicit goods, the SEC said. The team, led by Robert A. Cohen, a former co-chief of the regulator’s market abuse unit, will also focus on two forms of crime that are often associated with, though hardly unique to, the crypto space: market manipulation and the theft of sensitive information."
Perhaps counter-intuitively, Bitcoin proponents and skeptics should expect increased refinement in regulation and oversight of digital currencies to lower consumer risk, and grow the market through increased common use.
To start, the SEC will look at fake news when it's used to manipulate the market, such as pumping up a stock price to sell at a higher price. It also wants to look at shady dealings involving initial coin offerings and distributed ledgers like blockchains. Is that company starting a new bitcoin rival honestly, or is there a malicious purpose behind it? Officials will likewise worry about "misconduct" on the dark web, where it's harder to track activity.
