Citation
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Risks to Consumers Posed by Virtual Currencies (Aug. 11, 2014) (full-text).
Overview
This publication is a warning to the general public concerning the potential dangers of Bitcoin, Litecoin, Dogecoin, and other cryptocurrencies. These risks include:
- Hackers. Virtual currencies are targets for highly sophisticated hackers, who have been able to breach advanced security systems.
- Fewer protections. If you trust someone else to hold your virtual currencies and something goes wrong, that company may not offer you the kind of help you expect from a bank or debit or credit card provider.
- Cost. Virtual currencies can cost consumers much more to use than credit cards or even regular cash.
- Scams. Fraudsters are taking advantage of the hype surrounding virtual currencies to cheat people with fake opportunities.