Market Dynamics & Narratives - American narratives dominated crypto market earlier in the year, focusing on ETFs, DATs, TradFi, RWA Tokenization, and regulatory clarity [1] - Asian retail investors were playing catch-up, contrasting with 2022-2024 when Asia drove the market [1][2] - China & Asia were displaced due to lack of edge in US politics and information asymmetry regarding ETF listings [2] - Chinese narratives regained popularity driven by CZ's activity and the launch of Aster [3] Potential Market Manipulation - US government shutdown delayed expected catalysts and SEC actions, making long positions vulnerable [2][3] - Aster, a new perp dex supported by CZ, attracted billions in open interest from inexperienced traders [2] - Launch of SOL, XRP, and DOGE spot ETFs coincided with market events [4] - A BTC whale opened massive short positions, potentially linked to knowledge of Xi Jinping's actions [5][6] - Elevated open interest, delayed catalysts, and the government shutdown created an opportunity to "loot" the market [6] Conspiracy Theory Summary - The theory suggests a coordinated effort to exploit market vulnerabilities, with Chinese actors potentially profiting from the US government shutdown and delayed ETF catalysts [1][2][3][6]