Amid growing concerns over market manipulation, Binance has publicly denied accusations of offloading significant amounts of cryptocurrency through its primary market maker, Wintermute. This follows a series of large Solana (SOL) withdrawals by Wintermute, sparking speculation and intensifying market scrutiny.
Wintermute, a key player in crypto liquidity provision, has reportedly withdrawn tens of millions in SOL this week. Data from Arkham Intelligence reveals that Wintermute’s withdrawals have ranged between $2.6 million and $5 million daily, alongside large amounts of Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH). These withdrawals have fueled concerns of potential market manipulation, particularly given their timing—just days ahead of Solana’s $1.5 billion token unlock event, set for March 1. A massive 11.16 million SOL will be unlocked, heightening fears of an impending market shakeup.
The withdrawals have prompted some crypto observers to draw parallels to a major sell-off in early February, which some allege was coordinated between Binance and Wintermute to trigger a capitulation event. While Binance and Wintermute have both denied any malicious intent, the series of events has raised eyebrows within the crypto community. A viral tweet by market analyst Dalis Cane even highlighted the potential for panic selling, with Wintermute’s movements seen as “rocket fuel” for downward price action.
Binance is currently dumping mass amounts of $BTC, $ETH & $SOL to trigger a load of Long Liquidations. They will then buy back at lower prices…
— FlameseN アナリスト ₿ (@TraderFlameseN) February 25, 2025
You can see a huge block of Buy Orders places between $84-86k on Binance in the photo below. pic.twitter.com/ZkjEPSQW9U
Despite the accusations, Binance has taken to social media to reassure users, denying any involvement in market manipulation. The exchange insists that Wintermute’s actions are simply part of regular liquidity management, not a scheme to manipulate prices or trigger massive sell-offs.
However, some market watchers suggest Wintermute’s withdrawals could indicate other motives, such as unstaking or transferring SOL to different wallets. Others propose that Wintermute may be pulling liquidity from Binance’s order books, a practice typical for market makers.
Also Read: Binance Updates Leverage for NEO, RARE, DIA & RLC – Key Details Inside
With crypto prices continuing to drop, Binance’s liquidity drain could exacerbate volatility, amplifying concerns of further price swings. As the crypto market sheds billions this month, traders remain on edge, watching for any sign of manipulation that could trigger the next big price move.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. The author’s views are personal and may not reflect the views of Chain Affairs. Before making any investment decisions, you should always conduct your own research. Chain Affairs is not responsible for any financial losses.
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