1. set up ponzi
2. get tons of suckers
3. once it's on the verge of collapse, announce it's going to payout, "soon"
4. don't payout on time
5. everyone panics, sells their accounts at <50% value
6. pirate sets up puppet accounts and scoops them up
8. now pirate's obligations are < 50%, so he will have enough money to payout to the puppet accounts
9. technically, he still paid out
10. he also gets tons of $$$ from various bets because the ponzi default
Ding ding ding!... we have a winner...