Discussion-1 150 words with one reference
Since banks and government institutions are not involved with bitcoin, there is little legal supervision, regulation, or legal protection. Currently, there are no legal protections for using bitcoin in the U.S. In Japan, the Japanese Financial Institution Agency (FSA) has developed legislation to regulate cryptocurrency. On the other hand, Germany, France, and Europe want to oppress cryptocurrency because the decentralized nature of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies is a threat to the regime. China has recognized the bitcoin is inevitable but is not in any hurry to regulate it (Ruslina, 2019).
According to the United States (U.S.) Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), cryptocurrency, particularly bitcoin and ether, is not a security. The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has been more active than the SEC and has declared bitcoin and commodity but warns investors of risks because most cash markets do not govern or supervise bitcoin and the platforms may lack critical security. The CFTC has also attempted to take a proactive role in warning customers of the dangers of using bitcoin as a commodity and that investors could easily take advantage of consumers (Halsey & Halsey, 2020). The IRS classifies bitcoin as property for tax purposes. This classification also means that in criminal investigations, bitcoins are property to be forfeited.
According to Segal “the government regulation significantly interferes with the investment-backed expectation of Bitcoin holders because the classification virtually disables owners from using it as currency.” Due to the way the U.S. classifies bitcoin, owners can use bitcoin as a currency. Still, if they do, they are exposing themselves to penalties because it is impossible to record every transaction (Segal, 2018). The current state of bitcoin classification and lack of bank and government regulations mean that there are no legal protections for using bitcoin, and all legal issues that arise must be dealt with in private law.
Resource
Halsey, J., & Halsey, B. (2020). Bitcoin’s IRS, SEC, and CFTC Treatment: The Current State of Affairs. Journal of Financial Service Professionals, 74(3), 5055.
Ruslina, E. (2019). Legal Protection For Bitcoin Users In E-Commerce Transactions. Journal of Internet Law, 36.
Segal, Z. (2018). Taking Back Bitcoin. Touro Law Review, 34(4), 13751407.
Discussion-2 150 words with one reference
Legal protections for Bitcoins users
While Bitcoin technology continues to take the world by storm, many governments are yet to establish legal protections for Bitcoin users. In Argentina, for instance, the National Constitution of Argentina decrees that only the Central Bank can issue legal currency. Strictly speaking; therefore, virtual currencies are not legal tender because the Central Bank does not issue them. There are no specific regulations for Bitcoins in Argentina, but transactions involving Bitcoins fall under the protection of the Civil Code (The Law Library of Congress, 2018).
In 2017, the Brazilian Federal Reserve Bank issued a notice to alert citizens of the potential risks of transacting using Bitcoins and other virtual currencies. In the announcement, the Bank advised people that it does not issue nor offer any legal protections for Bitcoin users (The Law Library of Congress, 2018). Canada regards Bitcoins as commodities, effectively suggesting that there are no legal protections for Bitcoin users besides the protections available for commodities and barter trade. Under money laundering laws, however, Canada treats virtual currencies like money service businesses.
The situation is more or less similar in the EU, where governments have not established specific legal protections for their users, despite recognizing the value of Bitcoins in the economy (Ruslina et al., 2019). Leading EU authorities, including ESMA, EBA, and EIOPA have warned against using Bitcoins. The three jointly insist that Bitcoins are “highly risky and unregulated products and are unsuitable as investment, savings or retirement planning products (De Vido, 2019). The situation is the same in Indonesia, China, Japan, and Singapore (Ruslina et al., 2019).
In the US, the situation is not different. Bitcoins are not legal tender, but the law considers Bitcoins as property for tax purposes. Bitcoins fall under the regulation of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and SEC. However, the regulations focus more on taxation and preventing money laundering than protecting users from the dangers that may come with transacting using virtual currencies. The US government, through the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, has, in the past, issued warnings about the use of Bitcoin, noting the irrevocability, anonymity, and volatility of virtual currencies. The Bureau further notes that there are no safeguards for users.
References
De Vido, S. (2019). All that Glitters is not Gold: The Regulation of Virtual Currencies in the New EU V Anti-Money Laundering Directive. DPCE Online, 38(1).
Ruslina, E., Hernawan, D., & Rastuti, T. (2019, May). Legal Protection for Bitcoin Users in E-commerce Transactions. In Proceeding Interuniversity Forum for Strengthening Academic Competency (Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 311-315).
The Law Library of Congress. (2018). Regulation of Cryptocurrency Around the World. https://www.loc.gov/law/help/cryptocurrency/cryptocurrency-world-survey.pdf
Discussion-3 100 words
Compare and contrast five types of window glass.
There are many sorts of glass that make windows. The different types have different uses or purposes that they aim to achieve with their various designs. There are several factors involved in choosing the type of glass to use on a window. The first one is the cost of the window glass, and the second factor is the amount of energy that your windows can help you save (Sayyed et al., 2019). There is also window glass for areas that are prone to harsh weather conditions like hurricanes and storms. The types of window glasses are:
Float glass that gets its name from its formation procedure. It is formed when molten glass forms large and flat panels by floating it on the molten tin (Wang et al., 2017). It is then trimmed, treated, and improved. Float glass is just the ordinary fragile glass. This glass is weak and easy to break. The glass can be used to make various types of glass windows.
Laminated glass is made of two pieces of float glass pressed together by a thin layer of resin. This glass is standard in car windshields (Wang et al., 2017). The glass is strong enough to prevent the windscreen from collapsing if it breaks due to the presence of resin, thus able to maintain the structural integrity of the windshield.
Obscured glass is characterized by designs such as etched or beveled features that make it hard for one to see through, but light can penetrate (Sayyed et al., 2019). The glass is best for privacy purposes and can be used in bathrooms.
Tempered glass is made from float gas that has undergone a tempering process. This process makes the glass extremely strong and hard to cut (Wang et al., 2017). However, the lens can still break into smaller and less dangerous pieces compared to float glassBess for low and big windows.
Insulated glass is best suited for double and triple-pane windows. A space bar separated the two panes. Krypton and argon are added into the space to offer insulation between the glass panes. This glass is durable and increases the u-factor, and solar heat gains coefficient of the windows.
References
Sayyed, M. I., Kaky, K. M., ?akar, E., Akbaba, U., Taki, M. M., & Agar, O. (2019). Gamma radiation shielding investigations for selected germanate glasses. Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 512, 33-40.
Wang, M., Wang, B., Krishnan, N. A., Yu, Y., Smedskjaer, M. M., Mauro, J. C., & Bauchy, M. (2017). Ion exchange strengthening and thermal expansion of glasses: Common origin and the critical role of network connectivity. Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 455, 70-74.
Discussion-4 100 words
Security is a concern for any organization. Studies show that most of the theft or intrusion occurs through the window where thieves break window glasses and enter the room. Understanding the type of window glass that ensures safety is a crucial factor. The harder the window, the lesser the instances of damages to the property- especially in a data center that has expensive and vulnerable to attacks. Window glass is a sheet that is cut into the desired shape to fit the required opening. Thre are several types of window glasses that can be used for various purposes. Obscured glass is a type of glass that is impossible actually to see through. This type of glass enables light to penetrate but can not give room for outsiders to see you (Almutawa et al.,2013). It is crucial for privacy as no one can see what is going on inside the office. Low-E glass is another type of window glass that is designed to block the ultraviolet radiation that comes from the sun. The rays are harmful to the skin and cause fading of material colors. The Low-E glass also retains heat inside the house during cold seasons like winter.
Float type of window glass is a bit fragile. It is made of molten glass that is poured into tins to give the desired shapes. The float glass is weak and, therefore, can break easily, thus not suitable for office windows (Almutawa et al.,2013). Laminated glass is a type of a glass window that has been made from a combination of two float glasses with a thin layer of polyvinyl butyral in between them. The combination gives it strength to endure winds like hurricanes and keeps them from shattering.
Laminated glass is suitable for windows as it cannot be broken easily. Tempered glass is a type of window glass that is obtained when the float glass is annealed and cooled to make it reliable (Master et al.,2010). Tempered glass is tough to be cut, though it can break if struck. Low windows near busy areas can use this type of glass. Generally, each type of window glass possesses the characteristics that make it suitable to be used or not used.
References
Almutawa, F., Vandal, R., Wang, S. Q., & Lim, H. W. (2013). Current status of photoprotection by window glass, automobile glass, window films, and sunglasses. Photodermatology, photoimmunology & photomedicine, 29(2), 65-72.
Masters, F. J., Gurley, K. R., Shah, N., & Fernandez, G. (2010). The vulnerability of residential window glass to lightweight windborne debris. Engineering Structures, 32(4), 911-921.
