Blockchain and Cryptocurrency

Blockchain and cryptocurrency are digital systems for recording transactions and holding value without a central bank or company in charge. A blockchain is a shared record that many computers keep in sync. Regulators such as the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and the Treasury Department, along with Congress and the courts, decide how these systems fit into existing law.

People usually bring questions about who regulates digital coins, how they are taxed, and how they differ from regular money. They ask how governments handle fraud and illegal use, and how blockchain might be used for records, payments, and public services.