Despite the potential for large gains, buying bitcoin remains risky. The main risk is significant volatility (price swings). If you buy bitcoin and then the price plummets, you can sustain substantial losses. Adding any leverage (trading with borrowed money) will only further increase your risk when buying bitcoin. Also, bitcoin remains a complex financial product. Many investors have lost money simply by losing their private keys, whether through exchange hacks or because they did not secure them properly in self-hosted wallets. Using a regulated, reputable broker is essential for safely trading bitcoin.