US law enforcement agencies join digital currency companies to establish Blockchain Alliance – a public-private forum aimed at combating criminal use of the blockchain.

Apart from making blockchain more secure and preventing it being used by outlaws, the goal of the Alliance is to promote further development of the technology. Changing the widespread perception of bitcoin and digital currencies in general as the means of payment used mostly by criminals is also among the forum's objectives.

The project is the result of collaboration between Coin Center and the Chamber of Digital Commerce, featuring such prominent companies as BitFury, BitFinex, BitGo, Bitnet, Bitstamp, Blockchain, Circle, Coinbase, CoinX, itBit, Kraken, Noble Markets and Xapo.

The governmental part is currently represented by the US Justice Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Secret Service, the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

More agencies and companies are expected to join soon.

The founders of the forum emphasise the fact that it was the industry that initiated dialogue with the state, and that the Alliance is expected to become a place for “high-level conversations” which will help the industry and officials to find a common ground.


Maria Rudina