Regulation has come into play worldwide with the growth of the crypto industry. Over the years, the United States has increasingly stepped up its overwatch of the space. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) cracked down on initial coin offerings, or ICOs, after the mania of 2017 and 2018. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and other U.S. agencies have also engaged in various capacities.
Brooks admitted that “bitcoin miners appear to be causing environmental problems.” However, he said Bitfury has taken steps to reduce the industry’s climate impact. For example, Bitfury has designed technology that makes cooling computers and data centers more efficient and reduces the environmental footprint of activities.

No intermediaries. Unlike fiat, virtual currency transactions are conducted directly between two parties, on a peer-to-peer basis, using a decentralized computer network that involves no banks or other intermediaries. Trust in the system is based on digital proof, or the ability of users to access a permanent record of all of the transactions that have taken place.
Cryptocurrencies have seen an explosion in popularity since they rose to prominence in 2009 and there are now over two thousand in existence. Some of the ‘major’ cryptocurrencies include Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin. These are among the most traded cryptocurrencies worldwide, with the largest market caps.