‘Prepare to lose all your money’ — regulator’s blunt warning on bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies
The U.K.’s financial regulator on Monday issued a very blunt warning about the rise of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
“ “If consumers invest in these types of product, they should be prepared to lose all their money.” ”
The warning was prompted by firms “offering investments in cryptoassets, or lending or investments linked to cryptoassets, that promise high returns,” the Financial Conduct Authority said.
The regulator said it had five concerns: Consumer protection, price volatility, product complexity, charges and fees, and marketing materials. “There is no guarantee that cryptoassets can be converted back into cash. Converting a cryptoasset back to cash depends on demand and supply existing in the market,” the regulator said.
The market cap of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies topped $1 trillion last week, according to CoinDesk. Bitcoin BTCUSD,
Bitcoin, ethereum ETHUSD,
