Virtual Currencies: New Challenges to the Right to Privacy? An Assessment under the V AML Directive and the GDPR

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to analyse virtual currencies, with specific regard to Bitcoins, in light of a specific human right, the right to privacy. In the first part, this contribution will reflect on the effectiveness of the Fifth European Union Anti-Money Laundering Directive (V AML Directive) in ‘regulating’ the exchange between fiat and virtual currencies for the purpose of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing. In the second part, it will explore whether the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is applicable or not to the virtual currencies network.