It is now widely recognized that the cryptocurrency financial system has become a burgeoning industry. So much so that it has become ripe with opportunities for fraudsters and hackers, as millions have become victims of cryptocurrency investment scams and cyber attacks. Apparently, the common factor that has made victims vulnerable to criminal elements is their complacency.
They see the blockchain system as having sufficient shield against the prying eyes of financial regulators and tax enforcers. Yet they also take it to mean that the entire workings of the cryptocurrency financial system is safe from the schemes devised by scammers and hackers. .
Victims tend to overlook the fact that the beginning and end of cryptocurrency transactions still require participation of banking institutions. Not unless one is a cryptocurrency miner who gets to own a unit of cryptocurrency for every block of encrypted transactions he or she adds to the blockchain system.
Purchasing cryptocurrency with real cash, is still the fastest approach to owning digital money. Mainly because it takes high-powered computers to solve complex encryptions plus a lot of hard work is involved. Now in order to have real-world value, cryptocurrencies have to be cashed out through bonafide bank accounts or central bank-accredited payment processors.
Actions Taken to Strengthen the Security of Financial Transactions Involving Cryptocurrency Exchanges
As far as The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication or SWIFT is concerned, they have reacted to cyber attacks by reinforcing cybersecurity controls, and by identifying the weakest players in the SWIFT community.
Moreover, this organization of global financial telecommunication experts, makes sure that information about the modus operandi of known cyber attackers, are disseminated worldwide to prevent further occurrences of hacking incidents.
In the cryptocurrency system, which is basically a decentralized method of exchanging digital funds, whilst working outside of a central bank or a recognized administrator, members of the cryptocurrency community rely on each other in preventing scams and hacking incidents.
Cryptocurrency service providers like operators of crypto exchange platforms and digital asset custodianship, have also taken steps to prevent digital funds from being stolen. However, the fact that many crypto-related investment frauds and illegal cash-outs still happen, the use of encryption controls, of blacklisting addresses and of capping cash-out transaction, have not proven as sufficient deterrents against criminal elements and their modus operandi.
What Financial Experts Recommend to the Cryptocurrency Community in Moving Forward to 2020
Many articles written about cryptocurrency fraud suggest that it is not only the technology of the system that requires strengthening. Proponents and players in the digital currency market must acknowledge that it takes more than encryption to provide the necessary check and balances in ensuring the validity of blockchain transactions.
Improving the cryptocurrency system also requires risk management and adherence to basic financial controls. Particularly that of segregating duties, functions and roles among those who have access to the blockchain system to deflect conflicts of interests. Segregation pertains to those who have custody of customer assets, as well as from those who facilitate trading or exchanges of cryptocurrency funds.
Most important of all is to instill the importance of education or know-how among participants, before entering into cryptocurrency transactions.
Rather than have digital asset owners and potential investors rely on information provided by influencers, participants should have a clear understanding of how crypto-exchanges and fund transfers work; of the risks involved, as well as have accessible information about established institutions and organizations that can help in verifying the legitimacy of digital investment offers.
