well, there is an exchanger cartel. The biggest ones agreed to collaborate each other and here we are. It is the same BTC price despite the fact that BTC is NOT a centralized market. IT IS NOT possible a such thing while there is not any central authority. 
example : Coinbase and Bistamp are very tightly coupled. They have the same shareholders
Look to ALL the biggest exchangers and you will see a similar price even it's from Singapore, China, USA or Europe... HOW IS it possible if there is no cartel?
example : Coinbase and Bistamp are very tightly coupled. They have the same shareholders
Look to ALL the biggest exchangers and you will see a similar price even it's from Singapore, China, USA or Europe... HOW IS it possible if there is no cartel?
All forex is decentralised. Try buying GBP in Singapore, China, the USA or Europe and you'll see a similar price.
The reason prices are similar is due to arbitrage: if 1 GBP costs less in Singapore than it does in China, arbitrageurs will buy GBP in Singapore and sell it in China. The same thing happens with BTC.
I'm not saying that there isn't a cartel operating, I really don't don't know. But this isn't evidence of it.
The forex companies are regulated. They are financial licensed, a gov authority supervise them.
Let's take the first 5 exchangers:
Okcoin = where is regulated? Nowhere! Even China or HK requires a financial license for their activity
BTC China = same as above
Huobi = same as above
BTC-e = they don't even have an address on their website. they claim to be registered in Cyprus (EU). EU requires a license for their activity
Bitfinex = they claimed to be registered in BVI which requires a financial license for their activity.
Kraken = unlicensed money transmitter in USA. It's a matter of time until the feds will close it down.
So, these are the companies who "control" Bitcoin.
Bitcoin exchangers are coordinate their prices across continental divides. One goes down they all go down. The question is why the public tolerates their scam.
The exchanges arbitrage-bots equalize prices between one another. IT's NOT NORMAL in a DEcentralized market as Bitcoin.
Theyre hoping no-one will notice, and suckers will just keep depositing bitcoins in their vulnerable, corruptible coffers. Proof-of-solvency., Proof-of-reserve. Proof-of-existence, Proof or the bank wires in and out...where are all these?