Did SBF really use FTX traders' Bitcoin to keep BTC price under $20K?

1 year ago

Bitcoin (BTC) failed to deed $100,000 during the 2021 bull marketplace due to the fact that defunct speech FTX kept selling BTC, investigation claims.

In an X post connected Oct. 12, Joe Burnett, elder merchandise selling manager astatine Bitcoin fiscal services steadfast Unchained, joined voices arguing that FTX executives suppressed BTC terms strength.

FTX grounds reveals wide BTC selling

As the proceedings of erstwhile FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, known arsenic SBF, continues, new testimony paints a representation of marketplace manipulation.

This week, Caroline Ellison, erstwhile CEO of affiliated steadfast Alameda Research, reportedly told the tribunal that Bankman-Fried asked her to merchantability BTC should spot terms breach $20,000. This was done utilizing FTX lawsuit funds, which neither had the close to deploy.

AUSA: What are these?
Ellison: Notes from a speech with Sam. I wrote, support selling BTC if its implicit $20K.
AUSA: You wrote, FTX whitethorn raise. What does that mean?
Ellison: Raise superior by selling equity, to get much money. To investors similar MSB, the Saudi Prince

— Inner City Press (@innercitypress) October 11, 2023

Reacting, Burnett suggested that owed to the standard of the operations involved, the full Bitcoin bull tally could person been adversely affected.

“Alameda was insolvent adjacent during the bull market. It appears they utilized (or ‘borrowed’) FTX lawsuit bitcoin and different lawsuit assets to bargain ‘Sam coins’ (FTT, Solana, and Serum),” helium wrote, referring to reports that Ellison’s steadfast had a antagonistic worth of $2.7 cardinal successful 2021.

“Without this fake merchantability pressure, possibly bitcoin would person deed $100,000 successful 2021.”

SBF versu S2F

In the event, BTC/USD inactive reached an all-time precocious of $69,000 successful November that year, but astatine the time, predictions called for overmuch larger numbers.

Related: Sam Bankman-Fried blamed Binance for equilibrium expanse leak to media: Court evidence

Among those was the then-popular Stock-to-Flow (S2F) Bitcoin terms model, the creator of which, the anonymous entity known arsenic PlanB, gave a BTC terms people of up to $288,000 during the existent halving cycle.

The “worst lawsuit scenario,” helium continued, was $135,000 by December 2021.

Bitcoin is beneath $34K, triggered by Elon Musk's vigor FUD and China's mining ace down.

There is besides a much cardinal crushed that we spot weakness successful June, and perchance July. My worst lawsuit script for 2021 (price/on-chain based): Aug>47K, Sep>43K, Oct>63K, Nov>98K, Dec>135K pic.twitter.com/hDONOVgxH1

— PlanB (@100trillionUSD) June 20, 2021

After Bitcoin failed to scope those levels, S2F and PlanB himself some saw considerable nationalist criticism.

While PlanB continues to springiness optimistic outlooks connected wherever Bitcoin is headed, the SBF debacle is accelerated becoming a root of amusement connected societal media.

I can’t halt reasoning astir an alternate timeline wherever

-SBF is president of the United States

-Bitcoin hits 100k

-FTX token flips BTC

-meat is amerciable

-the US annexes the Bahamas

-all women supra a 3 get deported

— Doge Cuban (@DogecoinCuban) October 11, 2023

Others disagree with Bankman-Fried’s motives. Responding to Ellison’s testimony, Blockstream CEO and co-founder Adam Back queried whether helium genuinely sought to stifle marketplace growth.

So that sounds to maine much similar SBF "need USD liquidity merchantability BTC, but don't merchantability beneath $20k" and not "try to support BTC nether $20k. Ie beneath $20k is ridiculously inexpensive hold for higher. https://t.co/UKGQMGUKH2

— Adam Back (@adam3us) October 12, 2023

This nonfiction does not incorporate concern proposal oregon recommendations. Every concern and trading determination involves risk, and readers should behaviour their ain probe erstwhile making a decision.

View source