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$3,595.34 2.08504
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$583.80 2.57878
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$187.06 2.4253
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$0.6208310 1.35761
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Shiba Inu
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$0.0000319 6.82378
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$0.0000081 6.30964
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Bonk
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$0.0000290 14.02926
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Bitcoin
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$71,312.00 2.8522
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Ethereum
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$3,595.34 2.08504
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BNB
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$583.80 2.57878
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Solana
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$187.06 2.4253
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XRP
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$0.6208310 1.35761
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Shiba Inu
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$0.0000319 6.82378
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Pepe
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$0.0000081 6.30964
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Bonk
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Bitcoin
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$71,312.00 2.8522
Bitcoin price
Ethereum
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$3,595.34 2.08504
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BNB
BNB (BNB)
$583.80 2.57878
BNB price
Solana
Solana (SOL)
$187.06 2.4253
Solana price
XRP
XRP (XRP)
$0.6208310 1.35761
XRP price
Shiba Inu
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$0.0000319 6.82378
Shiba Inu price
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$0.0000081 6.30964
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Auckland University Professor: Government Must Regulate Bitcoin & Ethereum

This article is more than 4 years old
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Auckland University Professor: Government Must Regulate Bitcoin & Ethereum

In an interview with Interest.co.nz, Alex Sims, professor and head of the commercial law department at Auckland University, a prestigious education and research institution in New Zealand, stated that the government must legitimize Bitcoin and leading blockchain networks like Ethereum first before attempting to the facilitate the growth of its blockchain sector.

Sims emphasized it is necessary for the New Zealand government to provide clear regulatory frameworks and establish practical policies Bitcoin businesses and trading platforms can comply with. In consideration of the rapid growth of the global Bitcoin and cryptocurrency market, and the success of many Asian countries including Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan and China, Sims explained that the New Zealand government could either resist the growth of the blockchain sector or use it to its advantage.

Over the past three years, New Zealand, Australia and other countries in Oceania have struggled to see an increase in the number of Bitcoin, Ethereum and blockchain startups, primarily due to the conflict between leading banks such as the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Bitcoin startups. Throughout 2015-2016, major banks and financial institutions in Australia and New Zealand denied banking services to Bitcoin and blockchain startups, creating a significantly more difficult ecosystem for early-stage companies with limited resources and capital.

As a result, even venture capital-backed companies like CoinJar have lagged behind Asian Bitcoin companies in terms of user base and trading volume, despite raising millions of dollars in investment. Many companies moved to Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore, countries which have offered efficient regulations for both Bitcoin and blockchain companies.

During the interview, Sims admitted that Australia and New Zealand have struggled to demonstrate a rapid rate of growth in their Bitcoin and blockchain sectors:

“I don’t know what happened, but we really dropped the ball. We’re behind, but we can catch up. We can follow what Australia is doing. And some government departments in New Zealand are looking very closely at what Australia is doing.”

Since January 2017, Australia has made major alterations to its long-term strategy in dealing with fintech and blockchain companies. In May, the Australian government released its 2017 budget report which stated that Bitcoin would be considered as money and therefore, double taxation on the cryptocurrency will be terminated.

“The Government will make it easier for new innovative digital currency businesses to operate in Australia. From 1 July 2017, purchases of digital currency will no longer be subject to the GST, allowing digital currencies to be treated just like money for GST purposes. Currently, consumers who use digital currencies can effectively bear GST twice: once on the purchase of the digital currency and once again on its use in exchange for other goods and services subject to the GST,” the Australian budget report read.

If the New Zealand government is closely following the road map of Australia in regard to its facilitation of the fintech and blockchain sectors, in the upcoming months, startups in New Zealand will likely be introduced to improved regulations and a more flexible ecosystem.

At the Blockchain New Zealand conference held in Auckland earlier this year, Bitcoin and security expert Andreas Antonopoulos offered a similar viewpoint as Sims. He explained that the government of New Zealand could either choose to do nothing or create a fairer ecosystem for startups to compete with existing banking service providers. Antonopoulos noted:

“Governments can choose to either do nothing – which is okay, make things worse for cryptocurrency trading – like what Australia did by imposing sales taxes on all cryptocurrency transactions, or they can make things easier for companies by reining in the banks and encouraging companies by creating a level playing field.”

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