Cryptocurrencies promise financial freedom, but the reality is often far less rosy. Many projects lack transparency, with anonymous teams and vague whitepapers, making it hard to assess their legitimacy. Pump-and-dump schemes are rampant, artificially inflating prices before leaving investors in the dust. The absence of regulation attracts bad actors who exploit the unregulated environment. While blockchain technology holds potential, the current landscape is filled with scams preying on the uninformed. Always do your due diligence before investing. 