Spanish World Cup Icon Iniesta Chided Over Crypto Tweet

Macarena Munoz, Bloomberg News

AL WAKRAH, QATAR - NOVEMBER 28: Andres Iniesta of Vissel Kobe in action during the AFC Champions League Group G match between Vissel Kobe and Guangzhou Evergrande at the Al Janoub Stadium on November 28, 2020 in Al Wakrah, Qatar. (Photo by Simon Holmes/Getty Images) , Photographer: Simon Holmes/Getty Images Europe

(Bloomberg) --

Andres Iniesta, the star striker whose last-gasp goal won Spain its first soccer World Cup in 2010, earned himself a slap on the wrist from regulators when he took to Twitter to say he was using the cryptocurrency exchange Binance.

“I’m learning how to get started with crypto with @binance,” the former FC Barcelona player wrote in his post yesterday. Spain’s National Securities Market Commission replied with its own tweet saying it’s best to read up on the risks of cryptocurrencies before investing in them or recommending that others do so.

It also suggested reading a statement it put out earlier this year with the Bank of Spain highlighting investment risks associated with digital currencies, including extreme volatility, complexity and lack of transparency.

The CNMV is set to get new powers in Spain to control advertising campaigns by cryptocurrency platforms in Spain as they become more popular.