Re: pirate payments list -- accounts paid: 23/459

Since there is no transparency, we can assume his inner circle received their loans back, leaving everyone else empty handed.

His inner circle? Who would that be?
Like in every ponzi those who invested early had the chance to make a profit, but probably didn't since pretty much everyone "reinvested", as far as I can see.

Re: pirate payments list -- accounts paid: 23/459

I have no idea who they are.

Since there were no confirmations of those payouts I'd say it's entirely likely that there actually were no payouts whatsoever. And in case they were, as far as I can see those were (supposedly) all very small accounts, most likely paid out as a stalling tactic. I wouldn't call those people "his inner circle".

Sure, you may be right. But if you think that he lied about paying anybody, why do you believe that the paid out accounts were very small accounts?

Because it makes the most sense at this point. Grab the money, pay a few small accounts to keep people off your back for a while longer, disappear.