Recently, Roman Storm was sentenced for conspiring to operate an unlicensed financial services business, a verdict that stands out as highly unusual. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has explicitly clarified that autonomous cryptocurrency tools facilitating value transfer are not classified as money transmitters and thus fall outside the scope of relevant regulatory frameworks. Despite the election of a U.S. president known for supporting Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, and the Department of Justice’s stated position not to prosecute mixing services, Roman Storm still faced conviction.
This incident underscores the prevailing confusion, hypocrisy, and contradictions within government policy. Trust in official statements has markedly eroded. The government appears determined to intensify crackdowns on privacy, expand Know Your Customer (KYC) surveillance, and interpret the desire for privacy as indicative of criminal intent—all while publicly professing support for Bitcoin and decentralized financial systems. Such duplicity reveals the government’s inherent tendency to act in self-interest, often resorting to deception and double standards to safeguard its control.
At this juncture, it is imperative to reconsider the government’s role—not as an ally but as an adversary—and abandon any expectation of amicable relations. Resistance must be pursued through legal channels, invoking constitutional protections to challenge overreach. It is crucial to reaffirm that individuals do not require new laws or permissions to exercise their rights. Should the system violate constitutional liberties, civil disobedience becomes a legitimate and necessary means to hold authorities accountable.
Freedom is not passively requested; it is actively claimed. In an era increasingly trending toward totalitarian control, the pursuit of liberty demands proactive resistance. This is the singular path to preserving autonomy in the digital age.
Source: bitcoinmagazine
