[2015] National Security Implications of Virtual Currency

This was shared by @CorujaTejedora as part of FRP-32: Socioeconomic effects of cryptocurrency redistribution in the Costa Rican rural town of Tinamastes.

Statement: Baron et al. (2015) explore the different challenges of deployment for VC (virtual currencies), from lack of accessibility/technological tools to attacks by cyber-terrorist or nation-states that may perceive the VC as threat to National Security.

Description: According to Baron et al. the main challenges to deploying a VC are: access to technological sophistication, access to the VC, transaction anonymity together with transaction transparency, protection against cyber threats. All of this builds up the trust in a particular VC which in turn builds up user engagement leading to successful deployment of a particular VC.

Comments: The authors do not identify the complexities of understanding any VC as a threat to National Security, considering the historical conceptualization of National Security as a power ideology used and misused by the imperialist nations to maintain, regain and reshape control, power, resources and capital in their favour.

Evaluations: This research is useful in as much as it helps us identify the main challenges in employing a VC in Tinamastes day to day use.

Key Words: Virtual Currency (VC).