Did Chinese Ponzi Scam Cause Bitcoin To Tank 10%?

 

Martin Young 

For the umpteenth time Bitcoin has dumped double digits in a single day … again. Yet the FUD and panic still pervades the scene like a bleak cloud of despair that will be blown away and forgotten within a week.

A Fourth Dip to Four Figures

Since the big rally begun in early April, Bitcoin has fallen back into four figures four times already. Today’s purge, which bottomed out at just below $9,500 according to Tradingview.com, has already seen the asset start to show signs of recovery.
At the time of writing BTC had made it back over $9,900 and was eyeing a return to five figures already. All of this has happened within the space of a few hours so it is a little strange that the panic and fear returns every time Bitcoin makes a big move to the downside.

As pointed out by co-founder & CEO of Ciphrex, Eric Lombrozo, people are already looking for explanations.

“Bitcoin price dips for the gazillionth time, prompting wild reports of the end of the world and causing pundits to invent explanations. Predictions: In a week, nobody will remember this dip anymore. In a month the same thing will happen again and people will panic again.”

Bitcoin price dips for the gazillionth time, prompting wild reports of the end of the world and causing pundits to invent explanations.

Predictions: In a week, nobody will remember this dip anymore. In a month the same thing will happen again and people will panic again.
— Eric Lombrozo (@eric_lombrozo) August 15, 2019

Chinese Ponzi Scam Responsible?

One possible factor floating around the crypto sphere this morning is a Chinese Ponzi scam that resulted in the loss of a substantial sum of Bitcoin. Founding partner at Primitive Crypto, Dovey Wan, has been busy on twitter today with news that PLUS Token team members have been arrested.

The likelihood of this having any impact on wider Bitcoin and crypto markets is still being debated. The story is not even being reported outside of China at the moment and Wan appears to be the only source of information aside from a from a six week old SCMP story.

Founding partner at Adamant Capital, Tuur Demeester, has hinted that the sums involved could have wider implications on markets;

“If true, we’re talking about a 200,000 BTC heist here… +1% of circulating supply, worth over $2 billion today.”

If true, we're talking about a 200,000 BTC heist here… +1% of circulating supply, worth over $2 billion today. https://t.co/Kdd4LJ7QwZ

— Tuur Demeester (@TuurDemeester) August 14, 2019

Cryptocurrency thought leader, Richard Heart, added that the Ponzi angle seems plausible. While senior market analyst at brokerage eToro, Mati Greenspan, said that..

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