SEC Warns Investors about Bitcoin Risks

SEC Warns Investors about Bitcoin Risks

The United States’ market regulator Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) warned investors about the risks of partaking in bitcoin related activities on May 7. They cited that the digital currency has the possibility of giving rise to frauds and presented high risk investment opportunities.

SEC Alert

An alert was issued cautioning investors about the potential risk of delving in bitcoin. The alert read,

“A new product, technology, or innovation – such as bitcoin – has the potential to give rise both to frauds and high-risk investment opportunities.”

The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy stated that the purpose of the alert was to educate and make aware investors about the possibility of investment risks involving bitcoin in specific and other forms of digital currency.

The alert further stated that investors who might be interested in bitcoin or other forms of digital currency,

“can be easily enticed with the promise of high returns in a new investment space and also may be less skeptical when assessing something novel, new and cutting-edge.”

The US Securities and Exchange Commission pointed out that bitcoin is not considered a legal tender and stated that using and exchanging with the digital currency may possibly become restricted by federal, state or foreign governments.

The alert pointed out for everyone that unlike traditional currencies, the digital currency known as bitcoin or any other digital currency for that matter functions without a central authority, banks and is not backed by any single government. Hence, part of the rise in popularity surrounding digital currencies was this unique characteristic of being decentralized.

The SEC also pointed out after having highlighted security concerns regarding digital currency, that bitcoin exchanges may be completely and permanently shut down or stop operating as a result of fraud, technical problems, hackers or malware.

The digital currency took a hit after the fall of Japan-based bitcoin exchange, Mt. Gox. The failed bitcoin exchange was amongst the largest bitcoin exchanges in the world but due to severe mismanagement on the part of the core team and charges of fraud, it came crumbling down.

Before the issuing of this recent alert, SEC had previously warned against partaking in bitcoin related activities by citing Ponzi schemes. So, this is not the first time that regulators in the United States have raised alarms about digital currencies.

Share your opinions on this latest warning against bitcoin in the comment section below.

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