As part of its financial education initiative, Austria’s Financial Market Authority (FMA) published information today about “Crypto-assets, Tokens, Coins?” and explained about the three different categories of crypto-assets: payment tokens (e.g. Bitcoin), security tokens and utility tokens in simple language. A checklist of questions is also provided for consumers, to allow them to decide about the category into which a crypto-asset falls. Furthermore, the information also addresses tips about purchasing crypto-assets as well as the risks that should be borne in mind.<\/p>
“When investing in crypto-assets particular caution is advised”, remarked the FMA’s Executive Directors, Helmut Ettl and Eduard Müller. They are particularly speculative investment products in an area where regulation is scarce. In addition, they are frequently exploited for scams.<\/p>
During the first quarter of 2021, 34 cases of investment fraud, i.e. around half of all cases known to the FMA, were in relation to investments in crypto-assets. The average amount of damage in these cases stood at approx. EUR 17,000. General enquiries to the FMA’s Consumer Information about crypto-assets have increased greatly in recent years, and are now at a continually high level. <\/p>