In a post here last month on the news that Amazon is introducing "Amazon coins," a "new virtual currency," I wrote, "It wouldn't surprise FutureOfCapitalism if federal regulators tried to find some way to shut down Amazon coins… The government doesn't like competition."
Now the Wall Street Journal reports that the U.S. Treasury department has issued new "guidance" that imposes reporting and anti-money laundering rules on virtual currencies. The government says it's an effort to crack down on "criminals."