Quote from: 600watt on Today at 11:50:09 AM

Quote from: ivomm on October 03, 2020, 11:00:09 AM

Quote from: Karartma1 on October 03, 2020, 08:34:12 AM

On the Bitmex drama, my thoughts.
Some bitcoin companies are like lab rats: they have been left alone to experiment things that one day will become part of the new FINancialTECHnology world. Take Bitmex: bringing futures to the next level right? or finex or any other. Then they come and tell you, hey boy, this is our territory, how do you dare?
And then they publicly admit that "Digital assets hold great promise for our derivatives market and for our economy". Yeah, right?

Thumbs up to 600watt, somac. for https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=178336.msg55302340#msg55302340

With CME, Bakkt and Grayscale, the US derivate market is becoming of "significant size", which was one of the main concerns of SEC. The other - manipulations of almost anonymous high leverage traders operating on Mex is now in the process of solving. This is not only CFTC and SEC concern but possibly the main "bart generator" for the last 2 years. So in any possible way, Mex news is good for Bitcoin. The 3% drop in the price is by no means to be compared with the benefits of manipulators being kicked out of the market.

It is quite possible that the CFTC statement "Digital assets hold great promise for our derivatives market and for our economy" is related to a possible ETF approval, as also suggested in this article:
https://bitcoinexchangeguide.com/a-big-positive-step-towards-the-bitcoin-etf-approval/

Although, IMO, institutions will find a way to get into Bitcoin without an ETF. We've seen however, that in the last months despite the huge purchases, the price didn't move as much as it should. The only logical explanation is of course the fraudulent shorting using Mex and other not well regulated exchanges. There is also a non logical explanation. As we are normal people here, carefuly thinking about every detail, we tend to forget that there are people who are not like us. Take for example Las Vegas - how many addicted people are in the casinos losing all the cash they bring in their pockets! The same is with the addicted daily traders, who can't be called manipulators, but like vicious brainless piranhas eat the price down until their stash is gone in an endless stop loss chase. The removal of Mex shorters will tip the balance against the piranhas and in favour of the natural growth. So I applaud the CFTC action and hopefully it will shut down Mex and put their owners and other money launderers in jail, where they belong!

I did merit this post because I think the idea expressed has some plausibility.
but...
I strongly oppose the the highlighted part. it is cheap to demand jail for folks you don't know personally. the problem is that for someone this may become very personal. I was put in jail on several occasions mainly for political reasons fighting against and also breaking drug laws. jail is a serious matter. it is a very archaic punishment. to be locked into a small cell is a shocking experience.
you cannot go anywhere anymore and this has power to break your back. they wanted to lock me up for 10 years during my latest trial. the law that they used to press the charges in my case was not even anti-drug law but regarded pharmacy. the European High Court had to step in and declare the prosecutor's and court's strategy unconstitutional. the incident was more than a decade ago but the the trial is still not resolved. for several years this 10 yer sentence was hanging above my life like a Damocles sword. with wife and kids this ain't no fun and gave me serious insights and learning experience regarding jail, police, punishment etc. my take is that jail should be exclusively for violent crimes. not at all for drug related stuff. and scamming greedy gamblers is not on my list of things that I want the U.S. jail system to the care of. I have no clue if and to what extend Hayes did steal his customers money. if he did, a fair trial would be ok to call out for. is there evidence that he did?

Of course, any criminal trial has a possibility for jail time, but even if it does not, there is a higher burden of proof that governments (including Big bully USA) have in terms of proving someone to be guilty of each and every of the allegations that are alleged. Governments do not always play fair, yet I do not know enough of the details in this case (and likely NOT too many of us do) in order to be presuming the company or the four indicted individuals to be criminally liable to the extent that the govt is proclaiming.