Updated on:12/05/2025 05:18 PM 
Healthcare professionals at specialized addiction treatment centers are witnessing an unprecedented surge in individuals requiring support for cryptocurrency dependency issues.
Dr. Tony Marini, clinical director of the behavioral addiction program at the renowned Castle Craig facility in Scotland, has documented a dramatic increase in "cryptocurrency trading disorder" cases among his patients since establishing this specialized therapeutic track in 2013.
Marini recently shared with British media outlet ITV that his clinic has provided comprehensive treatment to approximately 200 individuals struggling with digital currency addiction over the past six years. Notably, the demand for specialized intervention has escalated considerably during recent global health challenges.
The healthcare specialist explained how extended periods of isolation and increased online engagement during recent societal disruptions have particularly affected young men, exacerbating problematic digital asset trading behaviors.
In one compelling case study, an anonymous patient described how his initial interest in blockchain investments gradually evolved into uncontrollable digital coin acquisition. What began as strategic investment quickly transformed into high-risk trading behavior.
The individual detailed how day trading consumed his daily routine, with excessive chart monitoring leading to prolonged smartphone usage and subsequent disconnection from conventional social interactions and responsibilities.
Based on nearly six years of clinical experience with cryptocurrency-dependent individuals, Marini has identified striking similarities between compulsive digital trading and traditional gambling addictions.
"Both behavioral patterns follow identical psychological trajectories," Marini explained, noting how the promise of substantial financial returns—envisioning luxury purchases and rapid wealth accumulation—creates powerful reinforcement cycles.
When substantial losses inevitably occur, affected individuals typically experience depressive symptoms and social withdrawal, creating dangerous isolation patterns that further perpetuate the dependency cycle.
According to financial health researchers at Debt.org, many cryptocurrency addicts engage in "chasing losses" behaviors, where they continue trading in attempts to recover previous investments—a pattern frequently associated with escalating financial difficulties.
A comprehensive research study revealed that only 4% of individuals exhibiting moderate-risk cryptocurrency trading behaviors seek professional assistance, while this figure increases to 20% for those displaying severe dependency symptoms, suggesting significant underreporting of digital trading disorders.
