Capital invested in exotica, then squandered (6)
I believe the answer is:
athens
'capital' is the definition.
(capital of Greece)
'invested in exotica then squandered' is the wordplay.
'invested in' indicates a hidden word.
'ATHENS' is hidden within 'exotica then squandered'.
(Other definitions for athens that I've seen before include "Hasten to Greek city" , "Two thousand and four Olympics city" , "City in which 13 Across founded school" , "Hasten to European capital" , "Capital of Greece" .)