London Daily

Focus on the big picture.

Crypto trading should be treated like a type of gambling, influential MPs say

Crypto trading should be treated like a type of gambling, influential MPs say

The Treasury Committee made the recommendation while describing digital currencies as having "no intrinsic value and no useful social purpose".
An influential panel of MPs has called on the government to regulate consumer crypto trading and speculation as a type of gambling.

The cross-party Treasury Committee claimed digital currencies such as Bitcoin and Ether have "no intrinsic value and no useful social purpose" - and as well as consuming large amounts of energy, they are often used by criminals for scams.

It comes after the government announced proposals in February to regulate the crypto industry by bringing it under financial services law.

But MPs said a better approach would be to recognise how speculation in unbacked cryptoassets - like Bitcoin - "more closely resembles gambling than a financial service".

It recommended that safeguarding rules which oversee the likes of lotteries, betting firms and casinos should apply instead.

Around 10% of UK adults have speculated in cryptoassets, according to HM Revenue and Customs.

The committee's new report warned digital currencies are a "significant risk" due to "huge" price volatility, with the potential for customers to lose everything they invest.

It said there was evidence that addictions to cryptocurrency speculation were on the rise - and warned there are limited controls currently in place to protect vulnerable consumers.

MPs said they were concerned that bringing the industry under financial service regulation "will create a 'halo' effect that leads consumers to believe that this activity is safer than it is, or protected when it is not".

"We therefore strongly recommend that the government regulates retail trading and investment activity in unbacked cryptoassets as gambling rather than as a financial service, consistent with its stated principle of 'same risk, same regulatory outcome,'" the report added.

A 'Wild West' industry

It comes after a 2018 report by the committee described the cryptocurrency industry as a "Wild West" - with MPs saying nothing in their subsequent enquiries had moved them to alter that verdict.

Following the new report, committee chair, Conservative MP Harriett Baldwin, said: "Effective regulation is clearly needed to protect consumers from harm, as well as to support productive innovation in the UK's financial services industry.

"However, with no intrinsic value, huge price volatility and no discernible social good, consumer trading of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin more closely resembles gambling than a financial service, and should be regulated as such."

The MPs said they still felt there was potential in the technology - such as by improving the efficiency and costs of making payments - and advised the government to take a "balanced approach" in supporting innovation.

The committee added it was separately considering the potential role of digital currencies backed by central banks.

Meanwhile its report also criticised the government's attempt in April 2022 to launch a non-fungible token (NFT) - a type of cryptocurrency asset - through the Royal Mint. The plan was dropped earlier this year following a review.

MPs said the government "should seek to avoid expending public resources on supporting cryptoasset activities without a clear, beneficial use case".

Crypto 'offers opportunities'

It comes as the government considers responses to a consultation into its regulation proposals.

A Treasury spokesperson indicated ministers would likely reject the committee's recommendation.

They told Sky News: "Risks posed by crypto are typical of those that exist in traditional financial services and it's financial services regulation - rather than gambling regulation - that has the track record in mitigating them.

"Crypto offers opportunities but we are taking an agile approach to robustly regulating the market, addressing the most pressing risks first in a way that promotes innovation."

The report comes amid growing pressure on governments around the world to better regulate the industry, heightened by the sudden bankruptcy of crypto platform FTX in November.

Some 80,000 UK-based customers were impacted by the collapse, and one British investor was left with a £1m hole in his finances.

The European Union this week approved tougher cryptoasset rules - including new powers to ban exchanges that fail to protect consumers.

The International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), whose members include regulators in the US and UK, said it will also soon announce proposals for the first ever set of global rules covering crypto trading.
Comments

Oh ya 1 year ago
Ot should be treated like the stock market. Pay your money take your chances. Goverments are slowong boiling the frog, getting the sheeple ready for THEIR central bank digital currency. Once you sign up for that your freedom will end, it is the mark of the beast and unfortunately many brain dead people will sign up for this. People have been so dumbed down by the education system and chemicals in there food they will stand on the train tracks and wonder what the bright light is approaching

Newsletter

Related Articles

London Daily
0:00
0:00
Close
UK Maintains Non-negotiable Stance on Falklands and Gibraltar
Controversy Surrounds A75 Road Closures and 96-Mile Diversion
Crunch Time in Conservative Leadership Race
Keir Starmer's Challenges in the Wake of Sue Gray's Departure
Coroner Urges UK Government to Improve Severe ME Care
Starmer Calls for De-escalation in Middle East Amid Heightened Tensions
Chancellor Reeves Decides Against Pension Tax Hike
UK Advocates Urge Tobacco Windfall Tax and Permanent Levy
Starmer's Chief of Staff Plans Major Overhaul at Downing Street
Key Labour Thinktank Advocates New Powers for Mayors
Rachel Reeves Considers New Fiscal Rules for Infrastructure Spending
Great Britain Faces Lowest Winter Blackout Risk in Four Years
The Impact of Online Culture on Young Women: Survey Insights
Hypersonic Jet to Revolutionize Air Travel
Russian Medic Arrested for Alleged Satanism and Promoting LGBTQ Rights
UK: Chagos Islands Deal Was About Securing US Military Base
RT has converted key archive speeches delivered by Putin into spoken English using the help of AI
Walmart is now selling a new book titled The Achievements of Kamala Harris—and all the pages are blank.
Bill Gates: "6% of global emissions are cows... You can either fix the cows to stop them farting, or you can make beef without the cow."
Facilitated Communication: Miracle Tool or Manipulative Method?
The Allure of Browsing Online Property Portals: A Modern Obsession
Suspected Acid Attacker in London Bailed Amid Investigation
Tragic Channel Crossing: Four Migrants Killed
Labour Cabinet Ministers' Stances on Assisted Dying
The Influence of Tory Members on Party Leadership
UK Plans Major Overhaul of Employment Rights
UK Food Industry Lobbying Delays £1.7 Billion Plastic Packaging Tax
New UK Tipping Law Sparks Confusion Among Restaurant Staff
Debate Heats Up Over Assisted Dying Legislation in the UK
New Personalized Cancer Therapies Undergo Extensive Clinical Study
UAE Energy Minister: OPEC+ Doing a 'Noble' Job in Balancing Oil Market
Call for Wealth Tax Hikes to Curb Reform UK's Rise
Labour MP Supports Chancellor's Rejection of Wealth Tax
Debate Intensifies Over VAT Introduction for UK Private Schools
Israel Plans Retaliation Against Iran Amid Rising Regional Tensions
Norwegian Police Conclude 'Spy Whale' Hvaldimir's Death Due to Infection
Dominica Sells Citizenship to Boost Climate Resilience
Greta Thunberg Detained in Brussels During Protest Against Fossil Fuel Subsidies
UK Returns Chagos Islands to Mauritius After Decades-Long Dispute
UK Reaffirms Commitment to Overseas Territories Amid Falkland Islands Dispute
France's Silent March Supports Gisèle Pelicot: A Shocking Case
Robert Jenrick's Leadership Prospects: Challenges from the Right
Declining Interest in Grammar Schools Amid VAT Concerns
Emirates Bans Pagers and Walkie-Talkies on All Flights
Malaysian Father Burns Son's Motorbike to Prevent Racing Accidents
Donald Trump Urges Israel to Hit Iran's Nuclear Facilities First
Private Schools Face Enrollment Decline Due to Impending VAT on Fees
Wetherspoon’s CEO Criticizes Smaller Beer Glass Proposal and Licensing Hour Reduction
Starmer Defends UK Chagos Islands Decision Amidst Tory Criticism
Naomi Campbell Banned from Charity Work After Fashion for Relief Mismanagement
×