The South Sea Bubble was a financial crisis that occurred in the early 18th century in England. It centered around the South Sea Company, which was established to trade in the South Seas and manage government debt. Investors were drawn to the company's promises of high profits, leading to a speculative frenzy and skyrocketing stock prices. However, the bubble burst in 1720 when it became clear that the company's profits were not as substantial as claimed. This collapse caused widespread financial ruin for many investors and led to significant changes in financial regulations in England, aiming to prevent similar speculative bubbles in the future.