It is certainly false flag. If the "powers to be" will go after Bitcoin, will most likely target other crypto currencies as well.
It is something they cannot control and most importantly cannot tax, hence the animosity against it. Every attempt to break free from their tentacles has been a disaster, see: Gadaffi's gold dinar.
How will it develop, only time can tell. All we can do is to raise awareness among the sheeple against the MSM propaganda out there.
Thank you for your comment here and sorry for the slow response. I have been working hard on the @steemshop account and its many moving parts for the last few days.
Your clear understanding of this situation is evident. And raising awareness is our duty now. Six months ago I started @steemtv with the intention of creating a decentralised documentary source page. We only made one documentary due to time constrictions. But this story feels as if it may well motivate me to make number 2!