@jonathanb
You have misunderstood how bitcoin works.
Technically (and legally) bitcoin isn't a currency in the literal sense of the word, but more like a collectible or commodity.
Bitcoins aren't "issued" at all. That is simply not how the system works. The purpose of miners is NOT issuing money or backing it, their purpose is confirming transactions - nothing more. Even the block reward is just a transaction from void TO the miner, in order to bootstrap the initial distribution of wealth.
According to your logic, gold mining companies would also be illegal because "they are not registered as money issuers".
Biting the hand that feeds IT
