I had been considering a theory which seems to match some of what was posted in the OP.
Lets start with a few axioms (open to debate, sure, but for now just roll with it)
- BTC still has massive growth potential
- There exist players with deep pockets who recognize this growth potential
- These traders intend to profit from the next run up in price, as we have seen in the previous bubble/crash cycles
Okay, so how to achieve profit from this?
1) Set up agreements with large mining operations (or any other players with large amounts of BTC, looking to liquidate) - Agree to buy x amount of coins per week at spot market rate. This works out well for the miners as they won't be subject to slippage as they try to cash out
2) Take a percentage of these newly aquired coins and sell on the exchanges in order to drive the price down
3) Next week, your OTC purchased coins are cheaper due to the lower market price
4) Continue until you have accumulated a nice sizeable position
5) Now flip the switch and employ tactics to drive the price back up. Miners will stop selling and start holding in anticipation of higher prices, thus lowering supply therefore price continues to rise exponentially
6) Dump into the hype for tidy gains. Precipitate a mass sell-off, shake out weak hands
7) Repeat steps 1 - 6
Would this work?
+1
All the parameters of this very thing happening.
There is a shadow market, within Bitcoin right now that trades a HIGH volume of BTC off exchange.
Market makers, miners, hedge funds, whales, however you want to call them.
They are squeezing this BTC fruit for every drop of its juice.
Consider : The INSANE hash rate we have been running at for the past few months.
There are more hashing farms than ever being booted. It has become an absolute arms race for mining technology, development & deployment. Mining farms are generating top tier VC money and these millions are probably a fraction only of private investment.
Some here are suggesting there is no demand for these coins. I am certain of this being absolutely false.
In fact this chart is a very insightful to that regard
OTC transactions are at near all time high.
Hopefully it ends soon. I believe it will. Miners will hit a wall. Another hype cycle will come again, I can feel it picking up right now after a very a slow summer.