非法获取虚拟货币行为的定性

　　对非法获取虚拟货币行为的刑法定性：第一种观点认为，刑法修正案（七）生效后，凡是侵入计算机信息系统，非法获取其中储存、处理或者传输的数据且情节严重的，都不应再以盗窃罪论处，而应认定为非法获取计算机信息系统数据罪。第二种观点认为，非法获取虚拟货币（虚拟财产）以外的其他计算机信息系统数据的行为，应按非法获取计算机信息系统数据罪处罚，但是，以盗窃方式获取虚拟货币这种类型的电子数据，主要针对的是虚拟货币所有者的财产权益，因此应认定盗窃罪。第三种观点认为，盗窃虚拟货币构成犯罪的，同时触犯盗窃罪与非法获取计算机信息系统数据罪两个罪名，属于想象竞合，可择一重罪处断。引起上述意见分歧的关键在于对虚拟货币的概念及法律属性还没有达成共识。

The first view is that, after the entry into force of the amendment (vii) to the Criminal Code, any intrusion into a computer information system, illegal access to data stored, processed or transmitted therein and serious circumstances, should no longer be criminalized as theft, but rather as illegal access to computer information system data. The second view is that the illegal acquisition of data from computer information systems other than virtual money (virtual property) should be punished for the offence of illegal access to computer information system data, but that the acquisition of electronic data of the type of virtual currency by theft, mainly for the property interests of virtual currency owners, should be criminalized. The third view is that the theft of a virtual currency constitutes a crime, together with the offence of theft and the offence of illegal access to computer information system data, is an imaginary combination of competition and can be qualified as a felony. The key factor in this disagreement is that there is no consensus on the concept and legal attributes of a virtual currency.

　　一、虚拟货币的概念

I. The concept of virtual currency

　　有人认为，虚拟货币既包括了Q币等未使用加密技术发行的传统货币，也包括了使用加密技术发行的新型货币。有观点将其界定为由私人发行，运用点对点的区块链技术发行、管理和流通的货币。上述观点对虚拟货币的外延认识基本一致，强调其私人发行特征。笔者认为，虚拟货币是与实物货币相对应的一个概念，是指非有权机关发行的，以区块链或类似技术为支撑并以电子化方式记录的通货，有别于Q币等基于传统互联网技术，由中心化主体发行并仅在其服务范围内使用的网络虚拟财产，主要包括比特币等，是不以物质形式为载体的新型货币形式。虚拟货币是依靠特定计算机算法（“挖矿”）产生的，通过竞争性记账、密钥验证等方法来保证去中心化安全运行的点对点加密数字交易工具。虚拟货币以计算机数据的形式存在于网络空间，并由加密技术来保证其安全性和专有性。虚拟货币的取得方式除了“挖矿”外，还可以通过交易平台或者场外交易取得。

The view was expressed that the virtual currency included both traditional currencies that were not issued using encryption technology, such as Q-currency, and new currencies that were issued using encryption technology. The view was expressed that it was defined as a currency issued, managed and circulated by private issues using point-to-point block-chain technology. The idea was broadly consistent with the outreach of virtual money, emphasizing its private issuance characteristics. The concept of virtual currency as a counterpart to physical money was that of a non-authorized body, supported by a block chain or similar technology and recorded electronically, unlike traditional Internet-based technologies such as Q-currencys, which were distributed by centralized subjects and used only within their services, mainly by bitcoins, was not a new form of currency in material form. Virtual money was produced by relying on specific computer algorithms (“mine mining”), and could also be acquired by means other than “trading” to ensure safe operation of centralized digital transactions. Virtual currencies were located in cyberspace in the form of computer data and were secured by encryption techniques.

　　二、虚拟货币的法律属性

II. Legal attributes of virtual currency

　　对于虚拟货币法律属性的判断，应当以法律规定为依据。

The legal attributes of virtual currency should be judged on the basis of legal provisions.

　　1.计算机信息系统数据属性

1. Computer information systems data attributes

　　数据安全法第三条第一款规定“数据”是“任何以电子或者其他方式对信息的记录”，计算机信息系统数据范围应当包括在计算机信息系统中实际处理的一切文字、符号、声音、图像等内容有意义的组合。虚拟货币产生并存在于计算机网络，性质上是计算机进行特定的数学运算而产生的加密字符串，是有意义的符号组合，具有计算机信息系统数据的刑法属性。虚拟货币是电子数据， 这是虚拟货币的物理属性。

Article 3, paragraph 1, of the Data Security Act states that “data” is “any recording of information electronically or otherwise” and that the data range of computer information systems should include a meaningful combination of all text, symbols, sound, images, etc. that are actually processed in computer information systems. Virtual currencies are generated and present in computer networks and are encrypted strings that are the result of computer-specific mathematical calculations, are meaningful combinations of symbols and have criminal law attributes to computer information system data. Virtual currencies are electronic data, which are the physical properties of virtual currencies.

　　2.非货币属性

2. Non-monetary attributes

　　2013年中国人民银行等五部委联合发布的《关于防范比特币风险的通知》（以下简称2013 年《通知》）明确：“虽然比特币被称为‘货币’，但由于其不是由货币当局发行，不具有法偿性与强制性等货币属性，并不是真正意义的货币。从性质上看，比特币应当是一种特定的虚拟商品，不具有与货币等同的法律地位，不能且不应作为货币在市场上流通使用。”由此，虚拟货币不能以货币方式流通，不具有货币属性。

The 2013 Circular on Protection against the Risk of Bitcoin (hereinafter referred to as the 2013 Circular) issued jointly by five ministries, including the People’s Bank of China, makes it clear that: “Although Bitcoin is referred to as a ‘currency’, it is not a currency in the real sense because it is not issued by a monetary authority, it has no monetary attributes, such as legal remunerativeity and compulsoryity. By its nature, Bitcoin should be a specific virtual commodity, with no legal status equivalent to currency, and cannot and should not be used as a currency on the market.” As a result, virtual currency cannot circulate in monetary terms and has no monetary identity.

　　3.财产属性

3. Property attributes

　　虚拟货币是否具有刑法意义上的财产属性：一种观点认为，虚拟货币能够在相当范围内流通，具有交易价值和使用价值，具备刑法上“财产”的特征。另一种观点认为，刑法上的财产应该是普世价值中具有一般性、客观性经济价值的财物，而非“特定群众主观上的好恶价值”。虚拟货币的价格一直上下波动，不同人对虚拟货币价值的看法不同，不同地方虚拟货币的价格也不统一。这种主观性极强的虚拟货币不属于具有一般性、 客观性经济价值的财产，不属于刑法保护的对象。

Whether virtual currencies have property attributes in the sense of criminal law: one view is that virtual currencies can circulate on a considerable scale, have a trade value and use value, and have a criminal law “property” character. Another view is that property in criminal law should be property of general and objective economic value in universal values, rather than “the subjective good or bad value of a particular population.” The price of virtual money has fluctuated, with different views of the value of virtual money being different, and the price of different local virtual currencies is not uniform. This highly subjective virtual currency is not a property of general and objective economic value and is not the object of criminal law protection.

　　虚拟货币是否具有财产属性应根据国家监管政策予以判断，具体可分为两个阶段：

Whether or not a virtual currency has property attributes should be judged in accordance with national regulatory policies, which can be divided into two stages:

　　（1）作为虚拟商品具有财产属性。2013年《通知》明确比特币不能作为货币在市场上流通使用，但承认其性质上是一种特定的虚拟商品。国家不允许金融机构和支付机构从事比特币买卖、登记等相关业务。但允许提供比特币登记、交易等服务的合法网站备案后运转。在该阶段，比特币作为一种虚拟商品，可以在除金融、支付机构以外进行流通和交易，此时比特币具有财产属性。

(1) Property as a virtual commodity. The 2013 Circular makes it clear that Bitcoin cannot be used as a currency on the market, but recognizes its nature as a specific virtual commodity. The State does not allow financial institutions and payment agencies to engage in business related to bitcoin sales, registrations, etc. However, legal websites providing services such as Bitcoin registration, transactions, etc. are allowed to operate after filing. At this stage, Bitcoin, as a virtual commodity, can be traded and traded outside the financial, payment and payment institutions, where Bitcoin has property characteristics.

　　（2）不具有财产属性。2017年9月中国人民银行等七部委联合发布的《关于防范代币发行融资风险的公告》指出比特币等虚拟货币发售、流通进行融资行为的非法性，并明确禁止交易平台上所有比特币等虚拟货币的兑换、买卖等服务，即交易平台上从事比特币业务是国家宏观经济秩序严厉打击的对象。因此2017年9月之后，虚拟货币已不具有刑法意义上的财产属性，不应作为刑法上的财产予以保护。

In September 2017, seven ministries, including the People’s Bank of China, jointly issued a bulletin on the prevention of the risk of financing the issuance of money in currencies, stating the illegality of the sale, circulation and financing of virtual currencies such as Bitcoin, and explicitly prohibiting all services such as the exchange, sale and sale of virtual currencies such as bitcoin on trading platforms, which are the subject of a severe blow to the country’s macroeconomic order. Thus, after September 2017, virtual money is no longer a property in the sense of criminal law and should not be protected as property under criminal law.

　　三、非法获取虚拟货币行为的定性

III. Qualifying illicit acquisition of virtual currency

　　在明确了虚拟货币的法律属性的前提下，非法获取虚拟货币可以分情形予以认定：如果行为发生于2017年9月之前，该阶段交易的虚拟货币可以作为刑法意义上的财产，又具有计算机信息系统数据属性，同时构成盗窃罪和非法获取计算机信息系统数据罪，按照想象竞合犯择一重罪处断。如果行为发生于2017年9月之后，此时的虚拟货币不应认定为刑法意义上的财产，不能以侵财类犯罪来规制。行为人通过对计算机系统进行侵入并修改数据的方式获取比特币出售获利，没有造成计算机系统功能实质性破坏或者不能正常运转的，应认定为非法获取计算机信息系统数据罪。

If the act occurred before September 2017, the virtual currency traded at that stage could be considered as property within the meaning of criminal law and as having the characteristics of computer information systems data, while constituting the crime of theft and illegal access to computer information systems data, it would be deemed to be a felony if the competitor were to choose a felony. If the act took place after September 2017, the virtual currency at that time should not be regarded as property within the meaning of criminal law and could not be defined as a financial offence.

　　（作者单位：重庆市第四中级人民法院）

(author: Chongqing City Intermediate People's Court IV)

来源：人民法院报

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