Bypassing banking controls
In 2010, we predicted that certain video games had the potential to be exploited by malicious individuals to transfer money and circumvent banking controls. Games like World of Warcraft and, more recently, virtual reality realms like Decentraland allow players to buy virtual items with real money and then sell them to others in different locations or countries using in-game currency. This process effectively bypassed global banking regulations.
Realisation 2023
The prediction became a reality in March 2023 when a proposal was presented to a federal court in San Francisco. The proposal raised concerns about Roblox, an online video gaming platform, potentially facing a money laundering issue. According to the court filing, it was alleged that over 300 users were involved in money laundering activities by purchasing fake in-game items using in-game currency.
