Promise and Peril of Virtual Currencies
The crackdown on money-transfer service Liberty Reserve highlights the growing challenges virtual currencies face as they gain wider use among businesses and consumers.
Such alternative payment methods have the potential to drive down or eliminate the processing costs businesses pay when they accept credit and debit cards. But, recently, some virtual-money firms have been mired in controversy over their lack of compliance with U.S. financial laws and allegations some are involved in illegal activities, such as buying and selling drugs.