Cryptocurrency trading is increasingly becoming more than a financial activity for some users, with addiction specialists warning that compulsive behaviour linked to digital assets is showing strong similarities to gambling disorder.

Jamie Giles, client services director at Castle Craig, one of Scotland’s leading addiction treatment centres, says the issue is defined not by the technology itself but by behaviour patterns that mirror established addictions. Speaking to Euronews Health, he described cases where individuals lose control over their trading habits, with their daily lives increasingly shaped by market movements and price fluctuations.

“We are speaking about someone who becomes consumed by cryptocurrencies, continually escalates their involvement, chases losses, attempts unsuccessfully to cut back, and persists despite obvious harm to their finances, relationships and wellbeing,” Giles said.

He explained that problematic use is often marked by secrecy, emotional dependence on trading outcomes, and repeated attempts to regain lost money. In many cases, individuals reorganise their routines around constant monitoring of crypto markets, which operate around the clock.

Although cryptocurrency addiction is not formally recognised in international diagnostic manuals, Giles said the absence of an official label does not diminish its clinical relevance. He pointed to research involving thousands of participants which found that a significant proportion of crypto traders exhibited behaviours associated with gambling risk.

The lack of recognition in formal psychiatric classification systems, he added, has not prevented clinicians from treating it as a behavioural addiction with outcomes similar to gambling disorder interventions.

Young men are identified as the most vulnerable group. Giles said many patients are in their twenties and often begin trading in search of quick financial gains, sometimes alongside other risky behaviours such as substance use.

“One patient profile we frequently see is a young professional under pressure who turns to substances and then crypto trading, only to find themselves trapped in a cycle of loss and recovery attempts,” he said.

He also warned that cryptocurrency addiction can be harder to detect than substance-related disorders, since compulsive trading may appear productive or financially ambitious. This social perception, he noted, can delay intervention.

Mental health consequences are significant. Anxiety, depression, sleep disruption and acute psychological distress are commonly reported, and in severe cases individuals may experience suicidal thoughts following major financial losses.

Giles also raised concerns about the marketing of crypto platforms, comparing it to gambling advertising due to its use of influencers, celebrity endorsements and promises of rapid wealth. He warned that increasing partnerships between crypto firms and sports organisations risk normalising exposure among young audiences.

Regulators in several countries are already tightening rules on crypto advertising and introducing safeguards similar to those used in gambling regulation.

Despite the risks, Giles emphasised that recovery is possible. He said early recognition is critical and stressed that addiction should be treated as a health condition rather than a moral failing.

For families, he advised maintaining support while setting firm boundaries, noting that recovery often requires a collective approach rather than individual effort alone.

Nicotine pouches are rapidly gaining popularity in Portugal, even as health authorities and regulators race to define how these smokeless products should be controlled. The small, discreet pouches, placed between the gum and lip, deliver nicotine without combustion and are being marketed as an alternative for adult smokers. However, experts warn that their rise is taking place in a legal and regulatory grey zone.

The World Health Organization has cautioned that nicotine pouches are addictive and may harm brain development, particularly among adolescents. Despite these warnings, their use is increasing across Europe, including Portugal, where the products were recently brought under an excise tax regime after months of operating without clear regulation.

Tabaqueira, a subsidiary of Philip Morris International, officially entered the Portuguese market this year following the introduction of taxation. Company managing director Marcelo Nico said the decision was tied to the establishment of legal clarity, noting that nicotine products must be regulated to prevent youth access while remaining available to adult smokers seeking alternatives.

“Our vision is to create a smoke-free world,” Nico said, adding that the products are intended for adult users and should not appeal to minors. He emphasized that regulation is essential to ensure controlled distribution and responsible marketing.

Health experts, however, argue that the risks remain significant. Pulmonologist Sofia Belo Ravara warned that nicotine pouches are often promoted with flavours such as mint, mango and berries, making them particularly attractive to younger consumers. She said aggressive marketing campaigns and social media promotion have contributed to rising usage among youth.

“Flavours make the experience more pleasant and increase nicotine dependence,” she said, adding that nicotine is rapidly absorbed through the oral mucosa, maintaining steady levels in the body and reinforcing addiction.

In Portugal, each pouch can contain up to 12 mg of nicotine, raising concerns among specialists about exposure levels. Although they do not involve tobacco combustion, Ravara stressed that nicotine still affects brain development, particularly in adolescents, impacting memory, attention and impulse control, while increasing risks of anxiety and depression.

International experience is also shaping the debate. In Denmark, nicotine pouches entered the market without strict regulation, leading to widespread youth use within a few years. By 2025, an estimated 14 percent of young people aged 15 to 29 were users. Authorities have since introduced flavour bans, packaging rules and nicotine limits, though enforcement challenges persist, especially online.

The WHO has urged governments to adopt stricter controls, including advertising bans, age verification systems, flavour restrictions and clear health warnings. It also warns that industry marketing strategies are designed to normalize nicotine use among young people.

Portugal’s government has recently approved a draft framework to regulate nicotine pouches, with proposals under consideration including advertising limits, sales restrictions and possible flavour bans. While industry representatives argue for balanced regulation to protect adult access, health experts insist that precautionary measures are needed to prevent long-term public health consequences.