Jamie Crawley is a CoinDesk news reporter based in London.
The Law Society of England and Wales said members should treat bitcoin (BTC) as cash and be aware of potential money laundering issues when clients choose to use the cryptocurrency for transactions.
Responding to a question seeking advice on the purchase of a property with the proceeds of bitcoin investment, the professional association for lawyers said while there is no specific guidance, members need to establish the source of funds used to buy the bitcoin.
“This is a cash transaction, so there is a high risk of money laundering,” it said in a post on its website. There is a “significant risk” in this transaction that the bitcoin “may be derived from criminal activity.”
Membership of the society is included in the cost of a practicing certificate for solicitors in England and Wales. Its judgement on bitcoin therefore is likely to have far-reaching implications for how bitcoin is treated.
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Jamie Crawley is a CoinDesk news reporter based in London.
Jamie Crawley is a CoinDesk news reporter based in London.