Really? Cryptocurrencies will never be regulated? It's already happening. I'm not making this up to start an argument. Governments are actually starting to implement regulations governing cryptocurrencies.
If you re-read my post, please note where I said the "fiat and retail gateways" would be regulated.
All the examples you cite relate to these. In particular in the name of "limiting anonymity" - again I said they'd try to do that in my post..."unless a mechanism can be found to associate blockchain addresses with individuals"
For example, the article about French regulation cites bitcoin "distributors" - i.e. exchanges and the like.
Another example you cite is the impending imposition of capital gains tax on crypto. That is actually a regulation which applies to fiat - not crypto because your taxable income is measured in dollars euros and you generally pay capital gains on realised gains.
There is also nothing in your examples about a distinction being made between opaque and transparent blockchains.
My apologies for missing the part you wrote regarding "fiat and retail gateways".
That is the regulation that I am referring to. I know that there is no way to regulate the cryptocurrency itself. The point I am trying to make is that any cryptocurrency will need more than just P2P transactions in order to stay relevant. They will require merchants that accept them as a form of payment.
I guess the point I am trying to make is that Bitcoin has a network of entities that are used for processing transactions that already comply with regulations already enacted. Going forward it is highly likely that governments will want to enact even more regulations. The issue with an anonymous cryptocurrency is that it prevents the government from following the transaction. Put it this way. Your personal banking records are private. They are not in the public domain. But if the government wants to track where your money came from they can obtain a court order and look at your records. Even with Bitcoin they can track the flow on the blockchain from address to address. With an anonymous coin that obscures that information that is not possible. So even though they can't stop an anonymous coin they can make it so that "fiat and retail gateways" will be unable to accept it because of possible regulations requiring a way to track the history of the funds. That is not too far fetched especially in western countries and predominately the United States using the Patriot Act to prevent transfer of fund to entities deemed to be enemies.
This doesn't just apply to Darkcoin but to all anonymous cryptocurrencies including Monero and all the other cryptonote coins. It is something to think about and a reason for some caution when investing in something this new and volatile..
