State agency offers digital currency tips, warnings

The market for digital currency, also known as cryptocurrency, saw a near 50 percent drop in value last week after soaring to record highs only a month ago.

Meanwhile, the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services recently received two consumer complaints regarding digital currency transactions. Both transactions involved consumers unable to get help accessing their accounts from their digital currency exchange.

In light of recent complaints and news reports about scammers manipulating digital currency markets using social media and fake news, here are three warnings and three tips for consumers before purchasing digital currency.

Warnings:
Understand the risk — Digital currency is unstable and can experience a sudden increase and decrease in value. The market has seen almost a 50 percent drop in value last week alone. It is not subject to regulation in the U.S., so the government cannot help you if your digital currency is lost, stolen, or hacked.
Difficult to get your cash — Turning cash into digital currency is easy, but it can be difficult to turn it back into cash when you need it. This can prove risky considering how erratic the markets can be.
Not federally insured — Unlike money deposited into banks and credit unions, digital currency is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or the National Credit Union Association (NCUA).

Tips:
Do not spend or exchange money you cannot afford to lose — The volatility of the digital currency market means that you should not use money that is needed for essential purposes, such as paying regular expense, debt, or saving for education expenses.
Treat digital currency investments like a commodity — Treat cryptocurrency like a non liquid investment similar to oil, copper, or gold, and understand that digital currencies do not have the basic value of most commodities.
Use a digital currency exchange that is licensed with the state — Oregon law does not require digital currency exchange companies, which only turn cash into digital currency, to be licensed. However, companies that help transfer digital currency from one person to another are required to be licensed by the state as a money transmitter.

“Cryptocurrency is a hot trend that is getting a lot of media attention today,” said Cameron Smith, acting DCBS director. “Like all popular financial trends, we encourage Oregonians to be cautious and know the risks before purchasing this unstable and unregulated currency.”

Oregonians can check the money transmitter license of a digital currency exchange at http://dfr.oregon.gov/gethelp/Pages/check-license.aspx/.

Oregonians who need help with their digital currency exchange company can contact the Division of Financial Regulation at 866-814-9710 (toll-free) or visit http://dfr.oregon.gov