Bitcoin Forum

Looks like Mark Karpeles was taken unaware by the leaked document. He is evasive about the source, saying its kinda accurate but not from MTGox.

Maybe there was a takeover deal at Gox planned, but on different terms. Something like Mark Karpeles wanted to throw in the towel after years of complaints and made a deal with an investor to sell the business, with btc balances more-or-less intact but a hole in fiat. Maybe he was approached by an investor first.

As part of the deal the investor wants to buy as much cheap btc as possible. You all know what comes next.

But the investor doesn't really want Gox; they just want cheap btc. So when they've finished buying everything they get Mark to hand over the coins. As part of the takeover deal they have also promised to inject liquidity into the exchange.

But when they get the btc the investor walks away and the leaked document, made up using figures received from Gox during takeover discussions but altered to show all coins missing, speak of insolvency etc., is released to the public.

Mark Karpeles caught unaware gets scared goes silent and doesn't know what to do. Suddenly everyone's against him because the leaked document shows Gox is insolvent with no btc (true now) and the fiat hole (which should have been filled up by the investor). While the 'takeover' was going on the investor approached the other exchanges telling them they are negotiating with Gox and Gox is insolvent and the others prepare their speeches, later to be released on schedule.

Mark has been ripped off and someone or some bad group has walked away with a load of cheap btcs.