The potential for high returns has been offered by Cryptocurrency, a digital or virtual currency that utilizes cryptography for security. However, a number of risks are associated with crypto, some of which are listed below:
Volatility: Cryptocurrency values are known to be highly volatile, meaning that their value can change quickly and unpredictably, potentially resulting in large losses for investors.
Lack of regulation: As cryptocurrency is not currently regulated by governments or financial institutions, there is no oversight in protecting investors from fraud or hacking. This has been exploited by fraudulent people to carry out activities such as running a Ponzi scheme, as evidenced by the recent collapse of the Kenyan-Chinese Bitstream Circle.
Security risks: Research on the wallet and study of how they handle the security of the wallet need to be done before any wallet is used, and care must be taken to ensure that one’s credentials are handled properly to prevent access to them by those with malicious intent, in order to avoid the risk of funds being stolen if the wallet is hacked.
Scams: Investing in cryptocurrency can be a great way to make money, however, it is important to be aware of the risks associated with fraudulent schemes, such as Ponzi schemes. Ponzi schemes promise large returns in a short amount of time and unfortunately can lead to large losses for investors when the schemes collapse. In order to identify a legitimate project to join, it is important to thoroughly research the project, its team members, the community, and the value it is attempting to provide. Taking the time to do this research can help you to avoid falling into the trap of a Ponzi scheme.
Limited acceptance: Cryptocurrency is not widely accepted as a form of payment, which can make it difficult to use, although this is now changing, as we are now seeing people and places of business accepting crypto still it is not yet adopted by the mass, some of the countries have not yet accepted crypto as legal tenders, this makes crypto relay on fiat currency
Technical risks: Cryptocurrencies are based on complex technology, and there is a risk that the underlying technology may not work as intended or may be vulnerable to attack.
Legal risks: The legal status of cryptocurrency varies from country to country, and it may be illegal in some jurisdictions.
Lack of protection: There is usually no protection for investors if a cryptocurrency project fails or the value of the currency drops to zero.
You might like reading this: Best crypto wallets in Kenya
Investors should be aware of these risks before investing in cryptocurrency and should consult a financial advisor before making any investments. It’s important to thoroughly research a cryptocurrency project and its team before investing and to only invest what you can afford to lose.