[chill1]

If you have the time, listen to the audio (~25 minutes) embedded in the article. There are reasonable concerns that naive and unsophisticated ("retail") investors will be harmed by cryptocurrencies. However to make the jump to "[the government should ban or regulate it into oblivion]" - this demonstrates an absolute disregard for the rest of the world which does not enjoy the same level of access to the financial tools available to citizens in wealthy nations. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are an experiment. An experiment that is going to continue regardless of any regulations that governments attempt to control it.

There is real innovation here, but there are also many scams. It's up to the individual to take responsibility for their own finances. Or outsource that responsibility to companies and institutions in their own locality.