Castle Craig Hospital in Peeblesshire became the first treatment facility in Scotland to open its doors to people struggling with cryptocurrency trading addiction. The residential program targets thos
Castle Craig Hospital in Peeblesshire became the first treatment facility in Scotland to open its doors to people struggling with cryptocurrency trading addiction. The residential program targets those caught in the grip of obsessive trading behavior, helping them confront what drives the compulsion and rebuild their lives.
Chris Burns, a gambling therapist working at the hospital, links the appeal of crypto to patterns he sees in problem gambling. The market's volatility creates a rush. Burns explained: "It provides excitement and an escape from reality. Bitcoin, for example, has been heavily traded and huge gains and losses were made. It's a classic bubble situation."
The condition mirrors gambling addiction in how it takes hold. Traders become fixated on price movements, unable to stop checking charts, chasing the next move. No one has counted how many people suffer from it, but about 13 million trade cryptocurrencies around the world. The industry drew waves of newcomers chasing fortune. In December, Bitcoin climbed near $20,000, sparking a frenzy. Then the picture darkened. By late May 2018, Bitcoin sat at $7,151—down 14 percent in a single week.
The slide accelerated as multiple regulators pressed down. The U.S. Department of Justice opened a criminal investigation into whether traders were rigging prices. Britain's Financial Conduct Authority started 24 probes into unlicensed cryptocurrency operations. Singapore's Monetary Authority warned eight exchanges to stop trading digital tokens classified as securities or futures without formal approval.
The market went nowhere. Bitcoin approached the $6,900 support level. Traders awaited any reversal.
Toni Marini runs part of the treatment program at Castle Craig. He battled gambling addiction and cocaine addiction before achieving recovery. He believes structure matters most for people trying to escape the addiction cycle. Marini said: "Having been through it myself, my experience of addiction gives me insight and empathy towards others who have the same problem. I see cryptocurrency trading as a way for people to escape from themselves, into another world, because they don't like the world they're in."
The program starts with group therapy. Addicts gather to tell their stories and connect with each other, recognizing they face the same struggle.
No one knows how many patients the hospital has treated or how many might seek help. But if professionals view crypto addiction as identical to gambling addiction, the demand for such programs may grow. More treatment centers could open as the condition gains recognition.
