Tags: Bitcoins | Political | Donations | Digital Currency

FEC Allows Use of Bitcoins for Donations to Political Committees

By    |   Thursday, 08 May 2014 01:47 PM EDT

You can now make bitcoin contributions to your favorite political committee.

The Federal Election Commission voted unanimously to permit such donations Thursday, USA Today reports.

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But the FEC stipulated that bitcoin contributions can't be made anonymously and that political committees must examine the donations to make sure that no illegality was involved.

Committees can buy bitcoins as investments, but they must convert the bitcoins into cash before depositing the money into campaign accounts. FEC commissioners couldn't agree as to whether committees can utilize bitcoins to pay for goods and services.

The FEC decision came after a request from Make Your Laws PAC, which promised to accept a maximum of $100 worth of bitcoins from each contributor per election.

But conservative lawyer Dan Backer, who earlier queried the FEC about the use of bitcoins, told several news organizations that the commission’s decision doesn't prevent candidates and committees from accepting bitcoin donations larger than $100.

Meanwhile, veteran technology lobbyist Brian Peters of Franklin Square Group sees the decision as major progress. "I’m doing my first contribution today. Great news for technology and the bitcoin protocol," he told Politico.

"I will contribute 1 million satoshis to any Democratic congressional candidate that requests," he said. That amounts to .01 bitcoin, or about $4.37 at current exchange rates.

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You can now make bitcoin contributions to your favorite political committee.
Bitcoins, Political, Donations, Digital Currency
233
2014-47-08
Thursday, 08 May 2014 01:47 PM
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