By Brett Theisen ( October 4, 2018, 1:31 PM EDT) -- Since bitcoin was first conceived in 2008, there has been a dramatic rise in the number of cryptocurrencies. A recent count identified more than 1,600 different cryptocurrencies,[1] and, in 2018 alone, there have been more than 1,000 initial coin offerings, or ICOs, which cumulatively raised approximately $7 billion.[2] The combination of rapid growth, still-developing (and often misunderstood) technology, unstable markets and questionable valuations has likely set the stage for a coming wave of insolvencies. Indeed, even the most successful cryptocurrencies (e.g., bitcoin, ethereum, ripple) have seen their market prices slashed since the December 2017 peak, causing tremendous losses and ongoing uncertainty for market participants, including lenders who hold cryptocurrency as collateral. Worse yet, a growing number of cryptocurrencies are being revealed as outright frauds....