Speculative crypto trading poses a major headache for regulators, with most novice buyers dipping their toes into the markets without basic trading knowledge. According to Blockchain data analytics firm Glassnode, newer investors and short-term holders led the recent bout of crypto panic-selling, crystallising their losses after buying in at the top. Unsplash The wild swings in bitcoin value are another reminder of crypto’s hyper-volatility. New Zealand regulators remain on alert as crypto becomes part of the mainstream investment conversation. But they are limited to giving broad guidance and warnings. The Reserve Bank has published a “buyer beware” warning in its past market analysis, but doesn’t treat cryptocurrencies as proper currencies. And while the Financial Markets Authority regulates businesses operating in the sector, such as Easy Crypto, it doesn’t have any oversight of trading.