Futures would make the Bitcoin price much easier to manipulate. One major banking institution or other wealthy group could manipulate BTC users in pretty much any way that they want.
Since BTC has less of a clear value than most other stocks and assets, it means that investors could be manipulated to push the price as high (or as low) as they want.
However, I suppose that introduction to a more mainstream and regulated audience could be helpful, as it could theoretically free us from the emotionally unstable investors we have now.
i have heard people talk about this manipulation just because a futures market is being added but they never explain how. i mean we have had manipulations so far and lots of them. what will change now that these markets are opening up?
my expectation is that in fact they will reduce the manipulation, mainly because that will make the market grow a lot bigger in the upcoming year as it gives good publicity to bitcoin. and when market is big, manipulating it is that much harder.