I think it is nice to read the above comments. All from experts who have a massive stake to cast these clouds over something that might seriously affect their worklife, career and income.
Even if this is a pump and dump or ponzi scheme it only works if people pump their own additional money into it over time.
Personally if people have additional money to add in and lose it, that is their own risk vs rewards; they can do this investing or take same gold to their gov't approved casino and risk it there, where do you think the greater risk of loss exists ???
Of course these experts above are just being useful, however since they are actually working for an income salary; i think this clearly shows they have no clue as to what or how to make money, otherwise they themselves would be independently wealthy and retired = not working for their wages...
So now we see many experts are either eggs under pressure or just someone in the industry who has a terrible skill at predicting industry change.
In todays world, the SEC and federal prosecutors love catching scam artists mainly due to the massive saturation effects of todays mass media; after all the world is 'interconnected' today, so where would these people try and flee to ? North Korea or Iran or New Zealand ???
If I can think of these things you can be sure others far smarter have considered and discounted them as well...