Matlab has problems with the SSL certificate from the btc-e site. Read the following if you are experiencing this error:

Java exception occurred:
javax.net.ssl.SSLHandshakeException: sun.security.validator.ValidatorException: PKIX path building failed:
sun.security.provider.certpath.SunCertPathBuilderException: unable to find valid certification path to requested target

To solve the problem:
1) go to https://btc-e.com/ (this example is for firefox users but might work in other browsers as well)
2) click on the lock icon in the url bar
3) click on more info
4) click on view certificate
5) click on details
6) click on export
7) save the certificate in your matlab folder as .crt file (default), if correct the default filename is GoDaddyRootCertificateAuthority-G2
8) run the code as seen below, you might need to change the filename. (from http://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/92506-can-i-force-urlread-and-other-matlab-functions-which-access-internet-websites-to-open-secure-websi)
9) when asked for permission, type: yes
10) restart matlab
11) everything should work correctly now

% Run this code after saving the function below
filename = 'GoDaddyRootCertificateAuthority-G2.crt';
importcert(filename)

% Save this function
function importcert(filename)
if (nargin == 0)
% If no certificate specified show open file dialog to select
[filename,path] = uigetfile({'*.cer;*.crt','Certificates (*.cer,*.crt)'},'Select Certificate');
if (filename==0), return, end
filename = fullfile(path,filename);
end
% Determine Java keytool location and cacerts location
keytool = fullfile(matlabroot,'sys','java','jre',computer('arch'),'jre','bin','keytool');
cacerts = fullfile(matlabroot,'sys','java','jre',computer('arch'),'jre','lib','security','cacerts');
% Create backup of cacerts
if (~exist([cacerts '.org'],'file'))
copyfile(cacerts,[cacerts '.org'])
end
% Construct and execute keytool
command = sprintf('"%s" -import -file "%s" -keystore "%s" -storepass changeit',keytool,filename,cacerts);
dos(command);