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It's just like what happened in EVE Online[0], only with real-world consequences instead of "that sucks, but player beware".

[0]: http://www.tentonhammer.com/eve/news/eve-online-ponzi-scheme...

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I think this is actually a really interesting parallel. They're both virtual currencies, but one carries actual legal risk and the other doesn't. The question is, are they really all that different?

EVE is very careful about keeping everything in "an alternate universe" which saves them from prosecution. Meanwhile the SEC, FinCEN, et al have decided to regulate Bitcoin, and there's no universe barrier to save it.

EVE's "ISK" does carry legal risk as they are an operator of a centralized virtual currency.

I think it's mostly a matter of FinCEN et. al. not yet training their sights on ISK, because ISK is not widely supported in terms of fiat-exchange and online purchases.

There's certainly no reason someone couldn't accept ISK on Silk Road in exchange for their magic mushrooms, but the reality is, why take ISK when you could take Bitcoin which has better tools/software for trading, better liquidity, and no centralized control?

Makes me curious if he'll be forced to repay what he owes 'investors' in Bitcoin...

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