英国在加密货币法案方面迈出了决定性的一步

2024 年 9 月 11 日，英国议会提出了一项法案，首次在法律上承认加密货币为个人财产。

The British Parliament took a historic step on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, introducing a bill to legally define cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and other digital assets in the UK. This bill, titled the Property (Digital Assets etc.) Bill, aims to classify cryptocurrencies as personal property for the first time under English law.

英国议会于 2024 年 9 月 11 日星期三迈出了历史性的一步，提出了一项法案，对英国的加密货币、NFT 和其他数字资产进行合法定义。该法案名为《财产（数字资产等）法案》，旨在根据英国法律首次将加密货币归类为个人财产。

The bill, which has been highly anticipated by the crypto industry, will create a third category of property, distinct from tangible property (such as gold or a car) and debts (such as loans or shares). This move is seen as crucial for a country that aspires to lead in cutting-edge technology regulation.

该法案受到加密行业的高度期待，将创建第三类财产，区别于有形财产（例如黄金或汽车）和债务（例如贷款或股票）。对于一个渴望在尖端技术监管方面处于领先地位的国家来说，此举被视为至关重要。

The initiative was welcomed by Heidi ALEXANDER, Minister of Justice. “It is essential that the law keeps pace with technological advancements to keep the UK at the forefront of the international legal services sector,” he said in a statement, highlighting the strategic economic importance of the bill, especially for emerging technologies like cryptocurrencies.

该倡议受到司法部长海蒂·亚历山大的欢迎。他在一份声明中表示：“法律必须跟上技术进步的步伐，以保持英国在国际法律服务领域的领先地位。”他强调了该法案的战略经济重要性，特别是对于加密货币等新兴技术。

The law also follows a report on the topic by the Law Commission, published in 2023, which identified obstacles to recognizing cryptocurrencies as legal property. Previously, these assets existed in a legal gray area, exposing holders to risks in cases of fraud or litigation. With this new classification, cryptocurrency owners will gain greater legal protection, particularly in complex judicial proceedings or cases of divorce, where digital assets are increasingly involved.

该法律还遵循法律委员会于 2023 年发布的有关该主题的报告，该报告指出了承认加密货币为合法财产的障碍。此前，这些资产存在于法律灰色地带，使持有人面临欺诈或诉讼的风险。通过这种新的分类，加密货币所有者将获得更大的法律保护，特别是在数字资产越来越多地涉及的复杂司法程序或离婚案件中。

In addition to legally defining cryptocurrencies, the bill introduces measures to protect cryptocurrency holders from fraud and scams. With a clear legal framework in place, holders will be empowered to assert their rights in cases of interference with their digital assets.

除了从法律上定义加密货币外，该法案还引入了保护加密货币持有者免受欺诈和诈骗的措施。有了明确的法律框架，持有人将有权在其数字资产受到干扰的情况下维护自己的权利。

“This legislation will help judges deal with complex cases where digital assets are contested, for example, in financial settlements such as mergers and acquisitions or divorces,” ALEXANDER said, emphasizing the need for legal clarity as disputes over cryptocurrencies are on the rise with their increasing adoption.

亚历山大表示：“这项立法将帮助法官处理数字资产存在争议的复杂案件，例如在并购或离婚等财务和解中。”他强调，随着加密货币的争议不断增加，法律清晰度的必要性增加采用率。

From an economic perspective, the bill is also designed to attract further investment in the digital technology sector and bolster the UK's position as a global leader in blockchain-related legal services.

从经济角度来看，该法案还旨在吸引对数字技术领域的进一步投资，并巩固英国作为区块链相关法律服务全球领导者的地位。

The UK legal services industry is already valued at £34 billion a year, and this legal update aims to maintain that momentum through arbitration and mergers. Ultimately, this modernized legislative framework will allow the City of London to remain competitive on the world stage and continue to draw new players in the cryptocurrency and blockchain sector.

英国法律服务业的年产值已达 340 亿英镑，本次法律更新旨在通过仲裁和合并保持这一势头。最终，这一现代化的立法框架将使伦敦金融城在世界舞台上保持竞争力，并继续吸引加密货币和区块链领域的新参与者。

With the passing of this law, the UK enhances both its competitiveness and the security of its economic players in the cryptocurrency domain. Cryptocurrency holders and businesses alike now have increased protection within a legal framework that evolves alongside technological advancements.

随着这项法律的通过，英国增强了其在加密货币领域的竞争力和经济参与者的安全。加密货币持有者和企业现在在随着技术进步而发展的法律框架内得到了更多的保护。

As the dust settles on this historic event, the future of cryptocurrencies in the UK appears promising, yet undoubtedly, new legal challenges will continue to emerge on the horizon.

随着这一历史性事件的尘埃落定，英国加密货币的未来似乎充满希望，但毫无疑问，新的法律挑战将继续出现。