cryptonews.com
The price of almost all major cryptocurrencies crashed today after it was announced that major crypto exchange FTX will be acquired by rival Binance in a strange turn of events.
The world's largest cryptocurrency has lost more than 8% over the past 24 hours, currently trading around the $18,000 mark. Ethereum, the second-largest crypto, also tumbled by more than 16% to $1,200. Polygon's Matic has suffered the most among the top ten, losing around 20% over the past day.
Bitfinex market analyst David Pourshoushtari said in a comment to CryptoNews.com that the recent developments in the crypto space would further exacerbate the sentiment around Bitcoin which was already in the crosshairs of whipsaw trading.
"In a space battered by a spate of high-profile failures this year markets are likely to remain turbulent until traders steady their nerves. A backdrop of looming rate hikes and a deteriorating global economy is only adding to super bearish sentiment,” Pourshoushtari said.
How King of Bailouts FTX Fell
FTX earned itself a reputation as crypto’s bail-out king during the recent crypto meltdown. The platform generously offered to bail out some troubled digital currency platforms, offering millions of dollars in a revolving line of credit.
However, in a strange turn of events, the exchange become insolvent and had to sell its distressed assets to a competitor. “We have come to an agreement on a strategic transaction with Binance for FTX.com,” FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried said in a tweet.
Binance CEO CZ added more details. “FTX asked for our help. There is a significant liquidity crunch. To protect users, we signed a non-binding LOI, intending to fully acquire FTX.com,” he said. But how things reached there?
On November 2, CoinDesk reported that it has gained access to Alameda Research's balance sheet, claiming that the balance sheet was loaded with the exchange's native exchange token FTT.
Subsequently, Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao announced that the exchange, which held 23 million FTX tokens worth about $529 million at the time, has decided to liquidate any remaining FTT on its books.
The news led to the FTT sell pressure increasing, with the coin plunging to as low as $3 from its daily high of $22 after it was revealed that Binance would acquire the exchange.
"The fear that Alameda's shoddy balance sheet was commingled with FTX's led to a liquidity crisis and ultimately to today's offer by CZ to acquire the exchange," said crypto veteran Jonathon Wu, adding that there is "a seeming multi-billion dollar hole at FTX."