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January is turning into a month to forget for digital currency investors.<\/p>\n
Cryptocurrencies are extending losses with Bitcoin headed for its worst monthly slide since December 2013 on the last day of January trading as US regulators ramp up their scrutiny of one of the world\u2019s largest digital currency exchanges while Facebook Inc is banning ads tied to the industry.<\/p>\n
Bitcoin is down about 31 percent this month, trading at $9,817 as of 10:20 a.m. in Hong Kong, according to composite pricing compiled by Bloomberg. Rival coins Ripple, Ethereum and Litecoin are also down at least 2%, the data show.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe regulatory oversight and the clampdown is really coming to the fore right now,\u201d Stephen Innes, head of trading for Asia Pacific at Oanda, said by phone from Singapore. \u201cI don\u2019t think we\u2019ve seen the last of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission sent subpoenas on Dec. 6 to cryptocurrency trading venue Bitfinex and Tether, a company that issues a widely traded coin it claims to be pegged to the dollar, according to a person familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified discussing private information.<\/p>\n
The firms share the same chief executive officer.<\/p>\n
Facebook, meanwhile, will ban ads on its social network promoting digital currencies, initial coin offerings and binary options, warning they\u2019re \u201cfrequently associated with misleading or deceptive promotional practices.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cryptocurrencies are still reeling after a record $500 million heist from Japanese exchange Coincheck Inc. on Jan. 26, further intensifying calls for increased oversight in global trading hotbeds such as South Korea.<\/p>\n
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