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What caused Mt. Gox, an early Bitcoin exchange, to shut down?

  1. Market Volatility

  2. Regulation Issues

  3. Server Overload

  4. Funds Theft

The correct answer is: Funds Theft

The shutdown of Mt. Gox primarily resulted from a significant theft of funds that took place in early 2014. This event was marked by the loss of around 850,000 Bitcoins, which were valued at hundreds of millions of dollars at that time. The incident highlighted serious security flaws within the exchange's infrastructure and raised questions about its practices in safeguarding clients' assets. Following the theft, Mt. Gox suspended all trading and withdrawals, ultimately leading to the filing for bankruptcy protection. This incident served as a pivotal moment in the history of cryptocurrency exchanges, prompting increased scrutiny on security protocols and regulatory standards throughout the industry. As a result, the reputation of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies was affected, emphasizing the importance of secure exchanges in the digital currency ecosystem. While market volatility, regulatory issues, or server overload may have contributed to the challenges faced by exchanges, they were not the direct cause of Mt. Gox's collapse. The theft of funds remains the central incident that led to its shut down, underscoring the need for stringent security measures in cryptocurrency operations.