美國紐約州擬放鬆比特幣牌照規定
New York’s top bank regulator smoothed the way for bitcoin start-ups as he gave them more time to meet the country’s first rules for licensing businesses involved in the nascent digital currency.
The state’s Department of Financial Services on Thursday said it will offer a two-year transitional BitLicense, which would be issued to firms that cannot immediately fulfil the requirements of a full licence, and will be tailored to start-ups and small businesses.
紐約州金融服務管理局(New York state Department of Financial Services)週四表示，將爲那些無法立即滿足所有規定的初創企業和小企業頒發一個用於過渡的兩年期比特幣牌照(BitLicense)。As the first state to propose rules for digital currencies, New York’s moves are being closely watched as regulators grapple with how to oversee bitcoin.
作爲第一個提出比特幣規定的州，紐約州此舉受到密切關注。全球各地的監管機構正在考慮如何監管比特幣。
After twelve months of hype when its value rose to around $1,150 to a US dollar, 2014 was the year the bubble burst for the digital currency. It is now worth about $315, dropping in value by about 65 per cent since the beginning of the year, when it was worth more than $900. Several scandals involving bitcoin this year have shaken confidence in the cryptocurrency, including the collapse of the Mt Gox bitcoin exchange, hacking incidents and high profile arrests.
在經歷了12個月的熱潮後（比特幣價格曾一度升至1150美元），比特幣泡沫在今年破裂。如今其價值大約爲315美元，自今年初的超過900美元已下滑65%。今年幾樁與比特幣相關的醜聞動搖了人們對這種虛擬貨幣的信心，包括比特幣交易所Mt Gox破產、黑客事件以及一家比特幣交易商高調被捕事件。Still, the fledgling currency is gaining traction. Time Inc recently announced it would accept bitcoins to pay for certain subscriptions, while others such as and travel web site also accept it.
然而，這種新興貨幣開始被更多人接納。時代集團(Time Inc)最近宣佈，將接受比特幣支付某些訂購服務，和旅行網站等其他公司也已接受比特幣。The regulations would only apply to virtual currency exchanges, companies that secure or store those currencies or those who issue digital money, among others. The rules also do not apply to businesses who accept them as payments or consumers.
紐約州的新規只適用於虛擬貨幣交易所，即那些獲取或存儲這些貨幣的公司，以及那些發行電子貨幣的公司。新規不適用於那些接受比特幣付款的公司或消費者。DFS’s proposed rules for digital currencies involve consumer protection. Those subject to the rules would have to supply receipts for transactions, establish consumer complaint policies and disclose risks associated with virtual currencies.
這些新規還包括消費者保護條例。那些符合新規的企業必須提供交易收據、制定消費者投訴政策並披露與虛擬貨幣相關的風險。As part of the changes, businesses can also apply to exempt certain parties if they are not involved in daily or major management decisions, which is meant to encourage angel investment.
爲鼓勵天使投資進入這一領域，新規還規定，如果一些相關方並不參與日常或重要管理決策，這類企業還可以免除這些人的責任。DFS also shortened the proposed record-keeping requirement from ten to seven years, and eliminated a criteria forcing licensees to obtain addresses and other data for all parties in a transaction.
紐約州金融服務管理局還將擬議的交易記錄保存要求從10年縮短到7年，並不再強行要求獲得牌照的企業取得交易各方的地址或其他數據。The agency also clarified who does not have to obtain a BitLicense. Software developers, virtual currency miners, those involved with bitcoin as a personal investment and others will not have to get a licence, Mr Lawsky said.
該機構還明確了哪些企業不必獲得比特幣牌照。軟件開發商、虛擬貨幣礦工（將比特幣交易作爲個人投資的羣體）等將不必獲得牌照。
