ALBANY, N.Y. - New York state regulators trying to curb money laundering and safeguard investors have proposed a special set of rules for companies involved in trading and storing virtual currencies. New York is the first state to propose issuing separate regulations for virtual currencies, demonstrating the importance that regulators attach to the fledgling field.

ALBANY, N.Y. � New York state regulators trying to curb money laundering and safeguard investors have proposed a special set of rules for companies involved in trading and storing virtual currencies.

New York is the first state to propose issuing separate regulations for virtual currencies, demonstrating the importance that regulators attach to the fledgling field. New York City is home to several startups dealing in Bitcoin, the most popular virtual currency, and some Wall Street firms are edging into the field as well.

Some industry firms vowed to comply. But the Bitcoin Foundation, a nonprofit organization that promotes the currency, questioned whether separate regulations are warranted and suggested that operators should instead be integrated into existing financial regulations.

Last week�s proposal by the state Department of Financial Services would establish a � BitLicense.�

Merchants and consumers who use the virtual currency solely to buy and sell goods and services wouldn�t need the license, but those buying and selling virtual currency as a business would.

Bitcoin and other virtual currencies have been gaining the backing of legitimate investors and mainstream businesses. Earlier this year, Overstock.com became the first major retailer to accept digital money.

Users swap cash for virtual currency using online exchanges, then store it in a wallet program on their computer. The program can transfer payments to a merchant who accepts the currency or to private parties anywhere in the world, eliminating transaction fees and the need to provide bank or credit-card information.

New York�s proposed regulations follow a yearlong department study. Financial Services Superintendent Ben Lawsky said his agency is trying to rein in money laundering and establish consumer protections without stifling innovation.

The currency exchange itBit said it intends to fully comply with regulations and said it applauds New York�s �thoughtful and transparent approach.�

SecondMarket, a Wall Street firm that runs a Bitcoin Investment Trust, said the rules �will help promote further adoption of digital currencies by both consumers and investors alike.�

Jim Harper, Washington-based global policy counsel at the Bitcoin Foundation, said some provisions of the regulations would be a heavy burden on Bitcoin businesses. For instance, businesses wouldn�t be able to keep their earnings in Bitcoin but would have to convert them to regular-currency assets, such as Treasury bonds or money-market funds. In addition, the requirement that they collect physical addresses of the parties in all transactions is �generally inconsistent with the way Bitcoin works today.�

But most importantly, Harper said, it�s unnecessary to issue licenses specific to a certain technology. �The preference would be for there not to be a special Bitcoin license but simply to integrate Bitcoin into financial services,� he said.

The proposed rules are scheduled to be published on Wednesday, followed by a 45-day comment period. The regulations would require of licensed companies:

� A background check of all employees and founders, with fingerprints submitted to state authorities and the FBI.

� A bond or trust account in U.S. dollars to protect customers.

� Internal controls against money laundering, including customer identification.

� Notifications within 24 hours of aggregate individual transactions valued at $10,000 or more.

� Written approval of all new business activities or offerings.

� A security program.

� Quarterly financial statements.

� The retention of 10 years of business transaction records.