Iran’s High Council of Cyberspace (HCC) has welcomed the idea of Bitcoin (EXANTE: Bitcoin) and other cryptocurrencies if they are harnessed by clearly-stated regulations, Financial Tribune reported.
“We welcome Bitcoin, but we must have regulations for Bitcoin and any other digital currency. Studies are necessary for considering a new currency,” said Abolhassan Firouzabadi, HCC secretary told Iranian news agency ILNA.
He said HCC and the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) are currently studying virtual currencies, but added that the Bank, like that of many other nations, has not come to a stable and defined stance on Bitcoin, noting that many countries look at it as a potentially dangerous option in light of its violent price fluctuations and investment risk.
Firouzabadi points out that even though the CBI has yet to devise definitive regulations for Bitcoin and similar currencies, “many in Iran are dealing with Bitcoin, be it purchasing, selling or mining it, and even dealing with it in exchange shops, creating content and establishing startups”.
Firouzabadi said he hopes CBI’s stance toward cryptocurrencies will soon be clarified, adding that HCC will continue to conduct studies and evaluate pros and cons of virtual currencies.