The cryptocurrency industry is rich in investment opportunity but also ripe for fraud schemes. The recent implosion of FTX Trading, Ltd. leaves investors and their advisers wondering whether any crypto investment is safe. There have been dozens of cryptocurrency-related fraud schemes in recent years including Ponzi schemes where investors thought they were investing in cryptocurrency to earn a high rate of return on their investment as well as investment schemes using crypto and the blockchain to facilitate the fraud scheme.

Fraudsters have capitalized on the popularity of cryptocurrency and pitch an investment opportunity with significant growth potential. Typically, unusually high growth potential is a red flag for investors, yet it may not seem unusual in a cryptocurrency investment given the historical volatility.