[gamblor956]

Stop spreading FUD. The MSB rules only apply to exchanges incorporated or physically located in the US, including its outlying territories. They don't apply to foreign exchanges, i.e., MtGox or most other current major BTC exchanges.

Foreign services stopped dealing with US residents because last year new FBAR and FATCA compliance rules went into effect, requiring US taxpayers to provide more information about their foreign assets, and the US signed numerous new agreements with most major nations to share data about U.S. account-holders (agreements under which either nation could demand specified information about account-holders in the other nation as if they were domestic institutions) Many European banks stopped doing business with Americans because it was a paperwork nightmare to deal with the compliance.

[lispsil]

1 CFR 1010.100(ff). An entity may now qualify as a money services business (MSB) under the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) regulations based on its activities within the United States, even if none of its agents, agencies, branches or offices are physically located in the United States. Relevant factors include whether the foreign-located person, whether or not on a regular basis or as an organized or licensed business concern, is providing services to customers located in the United States.

The Final Rule requires each foreign-located MSB to appoint a person residing in the United States as an agent for service of legal process with respect to compliance with the BSA and its implementing regulations.

Translation: Bitstamp, if they take $1 from an American customer are now required to register with FinCen, possibly apply for licenses (nobody has figured this out yet at the bitcoin foundation) and have an agent based in the US to oversee legal compliance. I haven't heard of Bitstamp doing this. Use at your own risk.

[ye]

But Bitstamp isn't in the US, so they don't give a crap about that law.

Just like you don't worry about crazy laws in Saudi Arabia or Kuwait that prohibit drinking alcohol.