If the past is any guide, the regulatory scrutiny could be little more than a speed bump for crypto mania.
Bitcoin prices fell for a second consecutive day as South Korea’s government said it was taking steps to regulate cryptoassets, and warned investors that they could lose money in the booming market. However, if the past is any guide, the regulatory scrutiny could be little more than a speed bump for crypto mania.
The most valuable cryptoasset has fallen almost 30% from its peak to $14,353, according to Coindesk. Despite being whipsawed by short-term panics after reaching a record high of $19,661 on Dec. 17, bitcoin is on pace to gain more than 40% this month.
South Korean watchdogs are planning to ban anonymous accounts and will close cryptoasset exchanges if necessary, according to Reuters. The government also noted that prices on its exchanges were often higher than on those elsewhere—a sign that exuberance in the region is especially heated and that the markets aren’t functioning properly.
South Korea is a hotbed for trading in bitcoin and other cryptoassets, and the government had earlier tried to stem frothy speculation in the market by considering a tax on capital gains. More than three out of 10 salaried workers in South Korea have invested in cryptocurrencies, according to a recent study conducted by job portal Saramin. It’s home to one of the world’s biggest cryptocurrency trading exchanges, Bithumb.
Source/More: Bitcoin (BTC) prices fall as South Korea’s government regulates cryptoassets — Quartz
