California Proposes to Ban Bitcoin from Charity Raffles (2024)

The recently submitted Senate Bill 741 would prohibit the sale of raffle tickets for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrenciesin the state of California.

Raffle Yes, Crypto No

Abill that addresses the regulation of organizations that conduct charity raffles in California was submitted by Tony Mendoza, a California State Assemblyman last week. Senate Bill 741 would allow non-profit organizations “established by, or affiliated with, a district agricultural association, county fair association, or citrus fruit fair association” to legally sell raffle tickets in the State.

California Proposes to Ban Bitcoin from Charity Raffles (1)

While the bill allows the use of electronic devices to sell raffle tickets and online advertisem*nt, it prohibits the use of anything that can bedefined as slot machines as well as internet sales of raffle tickets.

The bill also includesBitcoin, specifically, stating:

A raffle ticket shall not be sold in exchange for Bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency.

Similar mentions have been previously made in other bills related to raffles. On October 5, 2015 the Governor signed a bill prohibitingsports organizations fromexchanging raffle tickets for Bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency.

While these are bad news for Bitcoinists in the state, the bill also applies the same measures to any sales “conducted any manner over the Internet,” presumably excluding online payment services like PayPal as well.

With Bitcoin being a focus for many countries’ recent regulations, keeping track of all these changes can be hard. If you’re not 100% sure of what you can or can’t do in your State, you can check Coincenter’s State Digital Currency Regulation Tracker, which breaks down the current regulatory climatefor each State.

Bitcoin Charity Already a Thing

It is unclear why cryptocurrencies are not allowed in this case as one of the most relevant use cases for Bitcoin and blockchain technology is, in fact, charity. The transparent nature of the blockchain, along with the immutability that is provided by the thousands of computers that maintain the network, make itperfectfor publicly verifiable donations.

California Proposes to Ban Bitcoin from Charity Raffles (2)

Not only does Bitcoin bring the usual benefits that we’ve grown used to, such as faster transfer times and lower transaction fees, it also allows the organizations to be 100% transparent in the way the donations are being used. Donors and charitiescan take advantage ofthe public ledger to verifythat the donations are actuallybeing put to good use.

Furthermore, Bitcoin as a borderless currency gets rid of any exchange restrictions applied, allowing anyone in the world to donate to their favorite organization or cause.

Popular Bitcoin Charities

So, why worry? Even if you won’t be able tobuy your raffle ticket in California, you’ll still be able to donate to charities online with ease. There are many charities that are either Bitcoin-based or have added a Bitcoin payment option.

California Proposes to Ban Bitcoin from Charity Raffles (3)

Among these are the Red Crossand the Water Project, a non-profit organization that provides access to clean, safe and reliable water across sub-Saharan Africa.

Other organizations focus solely on Bitcoin-based donations. This is the case of BitGive, the first Bitcoin-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, which was founded in 2013 and has partnered with multiple international relief efforts, local charities, and global campaigns. Another organization, HelperBit, also focuses solely on Bitcoin as a P2P Natural Disaster Aid platform.

Why do you think California is attempting to ban Bitcoin from charity raffles? Share your thoughts below!

Images courtesy of Shutterstock, Red Cross

California Proposes to Ban Bitcoin from Charity Raffles (2024)

FAQs

Can charities accept bitcoin? ›

Yes! The IRS classifies crypto donations as property, which makes them fully tax deductible and exempt from capital gains tax. Selling your crypto before donating it usually means a capital gains tax hit of around 15-20%.

Can the government take away bitcoin? ›

Criminal Forfeiture

Bitcoin can also be taken by the government through a process called forfeiture. Forfeiture is the permanent loss of that bitcoin by way of court order or judgment. Seizure may occur before forfeiture and not all seizures will result in forfeiture.

What is the biggest argument against bitcoin? ›

Bitcoin Came To Disrupt Financial Systems

They also argue that Bitcoin eliminates intermediaries like banks and brokers in financial transactions. It is true that Bitcoin, just like all other cryptocurrencies, challenges the traditional centralized financial system.

Why do governments fear bitcoin? ›

In its current form, Bitcoin presents three challenges to government authority: it cannot be regulated, it is used by criminals, and it can help citizens circumvent capital controls. Until the time that Bitcoin's ecosystem matures, it will continue to be viewed with distrust by established authorities.

Do any banks accept Bitcoin? ›

Customers can exchange between currencies at any time. Ally Bank is one of the most Bitcoin-friendly banks. Ally is an online-only bank, meaning it has no brick-and-mortar locations. But they have 24/7 support as well as an online chat feature that has very short wait times (usually 2-5mins).

Can Bitcoin help the poor? ›

Therefore, Bitcoin helps the poor by increasing their savings and access to capital. The extra costs that people save when transacting with Bitcoin can go to their investments. Ideally, Bitcoin allows everybody to invest in it. It also enables the impoverished people to control their investments.

Can Bitcoin be tracked by IRS? ›

Yes, the IRS can track cryptocurrency, including Bitcoin, Ether and a huge variety of other cryptocurrencies. The IRS does this by collecting KYC data from centralized exchanges.

Can the FBI take your Bitcoin? ›

Investigators can trace transactions to cryptocurrency exchange locations or other “choke points” that require the user to sign up using their true identification. From this point, the law enforcement officer can get a warrant to force the exchange to divulge the real identity of the account owner.

Can the FBI track Bitcoin? ›

A fundamental characteristic of blockchain technology is transparency, meaning that anyone, including the government, can observe all cryptocurrency transactions conducted via that blockchain. Bitcoin transactions are publicly accessible because of the transparent nature of blockchain technology.

What is the biggest competitor to Bitcoin? ›

Ethereum is Bitcoin's largest competitor. Being the second largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, it's also the biggest platform for decentralized applications. The applications on Ethereum are run on ether, its platform-specific cryptographic token.

Is Bitcoin ruining the planet? ›

Globally, Bitcoin mining consumes more energy each year than the entire country of Argentina. In the US alone, Bitcoin mining produces an estimated 40 billion pounds of carbon emissions each year. Cryptocurrency mining facilities are major emitters of air pollutants.

Why is Bitcoin better than the dollar? ›

Bitcoin is more easily transported and stored and is impervious to counterfeiting, due to the security of its underlying blockchain network, he argues. Bitcoin's supply-inflation rate of 1.8% is equal to gold's annualized increase in supply, he notes.

Why do banks not like Bitcoin? ›

However, with the introduction of Bitcoin, the government and banks have lost control over currencies. That's because Bitcoin is a decentralized currency with an underlying technology that does not allow any government to regulate monetary policy.

Why people don t like Bitcoin? ›

Crypto Markets Lack Regulation

There is no organization or entity set to oversee the crypto industry, and therefore, the market can be manipulated by bad actors. This is one of the reasons some people hate cryptocurrencies.

Who is the man behind Bitcoin? ›

Key Takeaways. Satoshi Nakamoto is the pseudonym used by the creator or creators of Bitcoin. The identity of Satoshi Nakamoto is not publicly known. One of the first major public investigations ended with Dorian Nakamoto being identified as Bitcoin's creator, but he continues to decline the claim.

Does Walmart accept Bitcoin? ›

No, Walmart doesn't accept Bitcoin directly. However, you can use crypto gift cards, such as Coinsbee or Bitrefill, in order to pay with Bitcoin in Walmart.

Does Amazon take Bitcoin? ›

Does Amazon Accept Bitcoin? Amazon doesn't directly accept Bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency. The best way to spend crypto on Amazon is via the BitPay Card or to buy Amazon gift cards with crypto.

Can you cash out Bitcoin for real money? ›

The best bet is to use a platform like Binance.us or FTX.us to save on fees, and quickly cash out your crypto for dollars. The mobile apps make it easy to sell, and you can connect your bank account to transfer funds after the crypto is sold.

What are the negatives of Bitcoin? ›

5 disadvantages of cryptocurrency
  • Understanding cryptocurrency takes time and effort. ...
  • Cryptocurrencies can be an extremely volatile investment. ...
  • Cryptocurrencies haven't proven themselves as a long-term investment—yet. ...
  • Crypto has serious scalability issues. ...
  • Crypto newbies are vulnerable to security risks.
Sep 14, 2022

What is the weakness of Bitcoin? ›

Bitcoin weaknesses: crippling slow transactions and accessibility loss. Bitcoin transactions aren't as fast as they were a few years ago. This is one of the downsides of Blockchain: the more people use it, the more Blockchain limits your transactions speeds. Basically, the blocks get bigger the more it's in use.

Can you still get rich with Bitcoin? ›

Bitcoin mining, once accessible to individual investors, is now so competitive that it's rarely a profitable venture for those with small setups. However, it's still possible to make money with Bitcoin. You can trade it, lend it, hold it or earn it.

How does the IRS know if I made money on Bitcoin? ›

If you receive a Form 1099-K or Form 1099-B from a crypto exchange, without any doubt, the IRS knows that you have reportable crypto currency transactions. This is thanks to the “matching” mechanism embedded in the IRS Information Reporting Program (IRP).

Does the IRS know if you buy or sell Bitcoin? ›

Yes, the IRS can track crypto as the agency has ordered crypto exchanges and trading platforms to report tax forms such as 1099-B and 1099-K to them. Also, in recent years, several exchanges have received several subpoenas directing them to reveal some of the user accounts.

Does the IRS know if you sell Bitcoin? ›

First, many cryptocurrency exchanges report transactions that are made on their platforms directly to the IRS. If you use an exchange that provides you with a form 1099-K or form 1099-B, there is no doubt that the IRS knows that you have reportable cryptocurrency transactions.

Can Bitcoin be traced by police? ›

As a digital currency, there is no way to track or identify who is sending or receiving Bitcoin. This is a perfect way for a scammer to receive a lot of money with no way of tracing it back to them.

Can Bitcoin be traced if stolen? ›

In theory, it's possible to track your stolen bitcoin by monitoring the blockchain – in practice, however, this is made difficult by both the anonymous nature of the currency and the fact that the thief will most likely use a bitcoin exchange to trade the currency for normal cash straight away.

Can Bitcoin go to zero? ›

Since bitcoin does not have a storage cost, it will not go to zero.

Can I get my scammed crypto back? ›

Although it doesn't assure fund recovery, it's also best to report the cryptocurrency scam to your area's designated law enforcement authorities. Typically, when you report a crypto scam, the government will track down the criminals and get your funds back for you. Hence, don't hesitate to work with your government.

How many Bitcoin's are stolen? ›

In 2022, the US government recovered 94,636 bitcoin (worth approximately $3.6 billion at the time of recovery) from the 2016 thefts of the Bitfinex exchange. By February 2022, the amount of bitcoin stolen was worth $4.5 billion. Two people were charged for the thefts.

How do I convert Bitcoin to cash without paying tax? ›

Can You Cash Out Bitcoins Tax-free in the U.S.? Some people can cash out Bitcoins tax-free in the U.S. Investors who do not exceed a $78,570 income can cash out at a 0% capital gains tax rate. You can also avoid taxes by investing Bitcoin in strategic investment accounts or modifying your citizenship.

What is better than Bitcoin right now? ›

If you're thinking of investing in cryptocurrencies, you're probably already considering Bitcoin. But other coins, like Ethereum, Ripple, Litecoin, Cardano, Binance Coin, Polkadot, Solana, and Avalanche are strong options for diversifying your crypto portfolio.

Who uses Bitcoin the most? ›

Top Countries
  • USA (46 million)
  • India (27 million)
  • Pakistan (26 million)
  • Nigeria (22 million)
  • Vietnam (20 million)
Jan 4, 2023

How long will Bitcoin last? ›

Will Bitcoin function like pocket change or bars of gold in the year 2140? The Bitcoin ecosystem is still developing, making it possible that Bitcoin itself will continue to evolve over the coming decades. But however Bitcoin evolves, no new bitcoins will be released after the 21-million coin limit is reached.

What are the arguments against Bitcoin? ›

Five Arguments Against Cryptocurrency
  • 1.) Crypto returns are based on pure speculation. ...
  • 2.) Crypto empowers bad actors. ...
  • 3.) The aforementioned problems stem from the basic goals of crypto and how blockchain has been used to achieve them. ...
  • 4.) Intermediaries are good actually. ...
  • 5.) ...
  • Authors note.

What are some criticisms of Bitcoin? ›

5 most common crypto criticisms and how to shoot them down
  • Cryptos are a Ponzi scheme: This is perhaps the most common argument against cryptocurrencies. ...
  • Crypto has no intrinsic value: People believe that cryptocurrencies aren't backed by anything, unlike fiat currencies.
Jul 21, 2022

What is the main drawback of Bitcoin? ›

If a hard drive crashes, or a virus corrupts data , and the wallet file is corrupted, Bitcoins have essentially been “lost”. There is nothing that can done to recover it. These coins will be forever orphaned in the system. This can bankrupt a wealthy Bitcoin investor within seconds with no way form of recovery.

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