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The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a critical warning about FOMO investments just days before the anticipated approval of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) worldwide.
Critical Statement from the SEC
The SEC’s Office of Investor Education made a post on January 6th on X (formerly known as Twitter), warning individual investors once again about the risks associated with digital assets, including meme coins, cryptocurrencies, and NFTs.
A similar “say no to FOMO” statement had been issued on January 23, 2021, during a rising crypto and stock bull market, pointing to Bitcoin, Ethereum, and NFTs.
Despite the warning, many altcoins experienced incredible rises to all-time highs until November 2021. The warning was republished around March 2022 when a downward trend was observed in the markets.
Crypto followers on social media speculate that the report’s timing now is due to the SEC potentially approving one or more spot Bitcoin ETFs shortly before the January 10th deadline.
SEC Warning Highlights Celebrity Endorsements
The warning mentioned celebrities and athletes promoting crypto assets, urging investors not to make financial decisions based solely on endorsements by popular figures.
You might see your favorite athlete, entertainer, or social media influencer promoting such investment opportunities. No matter how tempting, never decide to invest based solely on their recommendations.
In the past years, the SEC has not hesitated to fine celebrities for their roles in promoting certain cryptocurrencies.
On October 3, 2023, Kim Kardashian disclosed that she was paid $250,000 to promote a fake token called Ethereum Max (EMAX) to her 360 million Instagram followers, and subsequently, the SEC intervened in the accusations. Following this, the celebrity accepted a fine of $1.26 million.
The report also warned investors about the allure of cryptocurrencies that fluctuate greatly due to “trends and external factors.” It noted that losses often escalate quickly due to the market structure, even if they appear attractive at first glance.
The report posed the following question to readers:
How would you feel if your investment lost 20, 30, or even 50 percent of its value in a single day?
The crypto industry is currently holding its breath in anticipation of the decision that may come regarding the Bitcoin ETF. Senior Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas expressed the opinion that most applicants would pass the approval this week or at least those meeting the regulator’s conditions before December 29th would be approved within the week.
