[lokelow]

>Here’s how these attacks work. A hacker penetrates a company’s systems—an often easy task, given many firms’ shoddy cybersecurity practices.

This seems like the real problem. "Banning cryptocurrencies", whatever that means, doesn't solve the security problem. If these critical systems are so vulnerable, shouldn't we be even more concerned about hackers who have more nefarious intentions than making some quick money?

[Hjfrf]

Ransomware is a job for these people. They're not doing it for fun.

Would you take a job if you were paid in only iTunes vouchers? There would still be a few people, but not the vast and expanding industry that we have at the moment.

Vouchers (or bags of cash) are also much more difficult to convert to fiat without being tracked.

In terms of enforcement - preventing all bank transfers to and from exchanges, embargoes on countries that allow exchanges, threatening to seize crypto on sight, and fines for companies making payments in crypto would be enough to do 99% of the work.

Sure people could send payments off-exchange, but without the liquidity provided by retail investors criminals would struggle to cash out.