While the decentralized nature of bitcoin means that it cannot be shut down by any government of financial institution, they can make it difficult for people to purchase the currency in the first place. That would effectively restrict access to the currency. It appears that is happening to some degree in Israel, as reports from theIsrael Army News website and users on the BitTalk forum indicate.
Even though the Google translated version of the Israel Army News report takes a degree of interpretation, it appears that banks are limiting transactions between Israel residents and known Bitcoin accounts, and in some cases even refusing them. Specific banks were not referenced in the Israel Army News website, but a user on the BitTalk forum reported that his/her bank, “Mizrahi Tfahot”, sent the following email in response to a request for transfer of funds to Mt. Gox.
It appears from these two reports that Israel banks are giving fear, uncertainty and doubt (FUD) as their reasons for not dealing with bitcoin exchanges.
My greatest hope is that we, as fast cash loans a society, can be a little more like the Culture as we mature and grow up into the stars.
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