US law enforcement joins Blockchain Alliance

The Blockchain Alliance announced partnership with the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security and representatives of private companies such as BitFury, BitPay and CoinBase that are involved in virtual currency.

The goals of the partnership include educating investigators on the ins and outs of how the technology works and enhancing the reputation of a digital currency that’s been associated with high-profile crime even as it has slowly gained mainstream acceptance and legitimacy. Its members hope to change the public perception of virtual currency and deter criminals from using it to their advantage.

“Far too many people think of Bitcoin as the currency of criminals,” said Jason Weinstein, the alliance’s director and a former Justice Department deputy assistant attorney general.

“The more law enforcement understands how this technology works, the more they can understand what they can ask for, how they can ask for it,” said Jerry Brito, executive director of Coin Center.

Industry participation is intended to signal a commitment to helping law enforcement weed out criminal activity associated with bitcoin.