California Attorney General issues cryptocurrency investing guidance

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has established a new webpage focused on cryptocurrencies, noting the effort seeks to provide information to avoid scams and other potential risks.

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“From celebrities to your next-door neighbor, it seems like everyone these days is investing in cryptocurrency based on the promise of fast and easy money,” Bonta said. “Don’t fall for a fantasy – Cryptocurrency, like all investments, carries significant risks, and there’s no guarantee that you’ll see large – or any – returns. You should only invest money you are willing to lose, and you should be on the lookout for red flags and potential scams. Our new webpage is meant to be a resource for Californians curious about this new and volatile market – so avoid the hype, get the facts and visit oag.ca.gov/crypto.”

Crypto assets include any form of asset that is exclusively digital – cryptocurrencies, tokens, coins, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and stablecoins.

Authorities are encouraging anyone potentially interested in cryptocurrency investing to conduct their own thorough research; watch for red flags signaling an investment opportunity is too good to be true; and file a complaint with state and federal regulators if they believe they have been scammed or think someone is attempting to scam them.