Bitcoin Drop Due to 13K BTC PlusToken Scam, Not Coronavirus — Analysts

Bitcoin (BTC) began its sudden crash due to another giant sell-off from the PlusToken pyramid scheme, analysts are suggesting as BTC/USD lost $8,000 support.

According to various online commentators citing Blockchain data, participants in the $2.9 billion scheme are again attempting to rid themselves of their BTC.

Mixer moves likely mean selling

Ergo, the Twitter account that closely tracks PlusToken’s activities, put the total funds involved at around 13,000 BTC or roughly $210 million at the current market price.

This time, Ergo said, the coins were going to mixing services to hide their traceability. Two feeder addresses have been identified, shedding their balances on March 5.

“Been looking and theorizing about this for months and I can't see a scenario where the coins aren't being sold, at least to some degree,” the account summarized. 

“This was likely obvious to the exchanges starting in September. The accounts would have been frozen then.”

The account added, however, that selloffs were now occurring at a “much slower rate” compared to a more intense period of activity in August last year.

Bitcoin price chart showing PlusToken movements. Source: Chainalysis

“Slamming the market with sell orders”

Bitcoin price volatility appears to influence PlusToken’s activities. During the last mass fund movement several weeks ago, BTC/USD was similarly experiencing turbulence at around the $10,000 mark. 

“They are slamming the market with sell orders. Essentially we have a giant whale unloading after every move up,” fellow Twitter analyst Kevin Svenson added in comments of his own on Sunday.

24-hour losses for Bitcoin investors totaled 9.5% at press time, while weekly, HODLers were down around 8.2%.