Monday, August 11, 2014

U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Warns Over Investing in, Using Cryptocurrencies

Bitcoin and other virtual currencies can expose users to a number of risks, including hackers and scammers trying to take advantage of hype surrounding the technology, a U.S. consumer protection agency warned Monday.

Bitcoin and other popular virtual currencies such as XPR and Dogecoin offer fewer consumer protections than traditional banks or credit card providers, the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) said in a consumer advisory. The six-page document appears to be aimed largely at new users of virtual currencies, and it includes an explanation of virtual currencies and an advisory on how to buy them.

“Virtual currencies may have potential benefits, but consumers need to be cautious and they need to be asking the right questions,” CFPB Director Richard Cordray said in a statement. “Virtual currencies are not backed by any government or central bank, and at this point consumers are stepping into the Wild West when they engage in the market.”

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