Hearing rumors that gox has been bought out, can't confirm.
Well the rummors were in their html:
acq = acquisition
who would want to buy that crap.. i dont know
I hate to fuel rumors, but this is the speculation forum.
Pure speculation, but in a logical world, the ONLY buyer would be someone whose reputation could dramatically overwhelm that of Gox. this organization would suddenly benefit from hundreds of thousands (or whatever) of verified bitcoin accounts.
An existing bitcoin player would seem undercapitalized. It would have to be a financial services company. But it all depends on how much Gox is under-capitalized. Repairing a couple million dollar shortfall would be nothing to a large company -- in fact it could result in a massive profit if they've been buying Gox coins at the discount.
This would explain the activity on Gox and bitcoinbuilder -- it might be illegal and unethical for Gox to buy their own coins for 100 bucks, but I think that it would not be for agent X who (for example) buys 90% of the Gox coins trading at 5-20% of other exchanges, then turns around and buys the company for keep-me-out-of-jail prices.
We all know the rocket is going to take off sooner or later.... b b b but d d d do you think they have had their fill of c c c cheap coins yet?? out of Mt g g gox?
<putsontinfoilhatandsparksacrackpipe>
ring ring
"Howdy doody Mark how are you on this fine American day? My name is Mr X and Mark the reason I am calling all the way from NY city today is to make you an offer, I think you should put down your frappacuinno extra large, and park your extra large butt on one of them big blue balls... I have an offer that you cannot refuse, it will keep you in blueballs and extra decorative tubs of coffee for ever..................
.......but first show me your books"
Mark pisses himself with glee and hands over the books
"Interesting so back in 20** this dip in price here what caused this? what is that you say? you halted withdrawals and everyone shit themselves? and the price tanked...... hmm interesting..."
"ok the offer stands...here is a giant stack of cash... but you are now mine!! dance fat boy!! dance!-
Ahem sorry I mean here is what we are going to do......I want you to halt all Bitcoin withdrawals now..."
Price tanks
Mr X buys lots and lots of cheap coins...
MtGox reopens withdrawals slowly
Price creeps back up
MK announces he is taking early retirement
MtGox gets bought out by a fund, maybe intending to open an NY office in 2015
Confidence re MTGox soars
Price soars
They got cheap entry into the market, and picked up a "distressed asset" along the way
and played a lovely game of manipulate the market with a healthy dose of fear.
<removestinfoilhatbutkeepsthecrackpipeforanotherblast>
Yeah we could have just seen this play out in the past week, and continue to play out now... the broken trust the other exchanges are talking about , insider trading?
Who knows ... but something is in the works