During the last 3 days about 20k BTC have disappeared from the order book (at least as I write this).
Do you think it's just one major player (possibly a company) buying? Is the withdrawal of funds from Fort Gox via BTC over?
I think it's one major player (probably a company) instigating and maintaining the uptrend to acquire an inventory of bitcoins as cheaply as possible while keeping the price as stable as possible to protect their assets.
I think it's multiple people with big cash balances on Gox losing patience seeing buying as the safest way out, but trying not to spook the market too much as they do so. I would like to see numbers for BTC leaving Ft Gox if they are available. I am pretty sure there is not a crowd banging on the door to give them more USD right now, so it's a one way street.
Massive first mover advantage here ... buy, hold, let BitStamp follow, cash out $10 later. Or $15 as it is now. Or hold for the panic run. Nobody talks of it, but there will be one if they continue to make no progress whatsoever on finding a banking partner to work with.
Confidence in Gox is decreasing and there is only one way out. Could get really crowded ...
Edit: Oops, just got back from the ballpark (Jays beat Bsox in extra innings), had a few beers and posted the quote without a comment (facepalm).
I don't think the MtGox situation has been that big an issue, worldwide, since early July's capitulation. If you look at the pattern of ask-wall busting whale purchases and ensuing bid-walls, they seem to be the work of a single entity. The modus operandi has been consistent through several major ask-wall breakthroughs.
Do you really think someone with the resources to organize such a concerted effort is restricted by some petty exchange difficulties.
It's probably either governmental, corporate or military. It's almost surely not speculators.