 The term "virtual currency" appears to have been coined around 2009, paralleling the development of digital currencies and social gaming.Although the correct classification is "digital currency", the US government prefers and has uniformly adopted the term "virtual currency".The FinCEN was first, followed by the FBI in 2012, the General Accounting Office in 2013, as well as the government agencies testifying at the November 2013 US Senate hearing on bitcoin, including the Department of Homeland Security, the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the Office of the Attorney General.