The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the US commodity market regulator, has stated that Bitcoin and other crypto-currencies are now recognized as raw materials, as are gold, oil, corn or wheat. Decision announced in a press release on 17 September 2015, when it ordered Coinflip, a company operating a derivatives platform on the bitcoin, to cease its activities for non-compliance with the regulations.
By this decision of the CFTC, the bitcoin and the cryptocurrencies are therefore increasing the raw materials market (energy, metals, livestock and meat, agriculture. Historically and even today, commodity trading has an economic impact on nations and populations.