Virtual money laundering: the case of Bitcoin and the Linden dollar

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of the money laundering risks of two virtual currencies, the Linden dollar, the in-world currency of the interactive online environment Second Life, and Bitcoin, an experimental virtual currency that allows for the transfer of value through peer-to-peer software. The paper will demonstrate that although these virtual currencies have money laundering utility, they are currently unsuitable for laundering on a large scale. The paper also considers whether either of these virtual currencies fall under the scope of the Money Laundering Regulations 2007 and draws on similarities with online gambling to suggest a method of incorporating the Linden dollar and Bitcoin within the anti-money laundering framework.