ECB president blasts Bitcoin's role in facilitating crime  

'This is an asset and it’s a highly speculative asset which has conducted some funny business,' says Christine Lagarde, as cryptocurrency hits records in market

Christine Lagarde: 'For those who had assumed that it might turn into a currency — terribly sorry, but this is an asset.'

ECB president Christine Lagarde has taken aim at Bitcoin’s role in facilitating criminal activity, saying the cryptocurrency has been enabling “funny business". 

“For those who had assumed that it might turn into a currency — terribly sorry, but this is an asset and it’s a highly speculative asset which has conducted some funny business and some interesting and totally reprehensible money-laundering activity,” Ms Lagarde said.