I don't think it could be true just because it's so easy to have your reserves checked, it seems like in China they would be putting people to death for doing this. That doesn't mean that some companies aren't trying it, but I don't think it's happening at the scale you seem to be insinuating. In the end though these games won't work.
The China should allow their people to get into the cryptocurrency,because many countries economy was now had the good standard because of the revenue from the cryptocurrency traders after legalisation of cryptocurrency in their country.China is the first country to had huge population,So adding their people to the cryptocurrency will help their people too.The market of the cryptocurrency also get into the good value and it’s increase the demand of cryptocurrency in the market.
At some point someone will have to show their Bitcoin reserves and when companies are tasked with their leaders going to jail or having to spot buy BTC to the moon, they'll do what they're supposed to do and run the price up. This would be the type of event that would send BTC to a million. Don't fear it.
The bitcoin had a potential to get 10 times of the current market price,So the trust towards the future was the important one here.Now only believe the bitcoin at the beginning of release,most of the people criticised.Only the earlier adopter of the bitcoin was the millionaire and billionaire from their long holding bitcoin.