Government Agencies CFTC

Bitcoin has held up relatively well this week despite negative headlines about regulatory crackdowns.

The ecosystem around bitcoin is still changing, but the CFTC chairman says the popular cryptocurrency shows traces of a security, a commodity and a digital coin.

Increased regulatory scrutiny, Google banning cryptocurrency-related ads, and continued bitcoin selling by the trustee of Mt.Gox, was behind the fall in cryptocurrency prices.

CFTC Commissioner Brian Quintenz says adding some regulation to the crypto market is a good thing.

Gold was near one-week high as Italian elections and fears over inflation hikes and a looming trade war tamped the dollar.

The VIX, often called the market's fear index, has been "suspect for at least seven years," says Bart Chilton, former CFTC commissioner.

Gold prices rose on Monday as the dollar slipped, but gains are expected to be capped ahead of inflation data from the U.S. this week.

Gold edged up on Monday, clawing back some lost ground, as a softer tone to the dollar took some pressure off the metal.

Regulators have targeted high-speed trading as an area where manipulative trading occurs.

Some users have made tens of thousands of dollars betting on politics at website PredictIt.

The U.S. Senate will hold a hearing with regulators to discuss the risks posed by cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin.

The dollar clawed back some ground against the buoyant euro and traders bet on further U.S. rate hikes this year.

The Cboe and CME "know what they're doing" in the futures markets, said Bart Chilton, who has called for the regulation of bitcoin.

"What's the difference between bitcoin and trying to figure out the Super Bowl? I mean it's gambling," CNBC's Jim Cramer says.

Federal oversight of bitcoin futures aims to preserve the integrity of the contracts, a CFTC official says.