Binance, the worlds largest crypto exchange, is set to acquire Bahamas-based competitor FTX in a deal that makes it the undisputed leader in the space, and Crypto Twitter is shook.
The deal comes after recent Twitter jostling between Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao and FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, recently considered the industrys white knight for infusing cash into struggling operations.
The conflict between Zhao and Bankman-Fried escalated on Monday, with the former saying Binance would sell its holdings of FTXs native crypto token, FTT, and then a day later Zhao announced his firm would be buying SBFs for an undisclosed amount because FTX was facing a liquidity crunch.
Although some on Crypto Twitter had previously speculated that Alameda and FTXs holdings were at risk, many, including crypto influencers and founders, were shocked at the speed at which the transaction was announced, and the power that Binance has consolidated.
Stone cold hostile takeover, tweeted crypto influencer @Croesus_BTC.
Anatoly Yakovenko, a cofounder of Solana, added: Binance Solana Chain has a nice ring to it, before deleting the tweet.
The Twitter user @marketsmeowmeow laid out Binances advanced chess moves: If Im reading this correctly CZ nukes SBFs reserves / CZ acquires SBF assets for a deep discount / SBF thanks CZ for all hes done for crypto / lol.
Others quickly jumped on the opportunity to poke fun at Bankman-Fried and FTX investors, including Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and his ex-wife, Gisele Bündchen, who took an undisclosed equity stake in FTX last year.
FTXs liquidity crunch drew comparisons to the meltdown of Terraform Labss algorithmic stablecoin Terra and Luna sister tokens, events that rippled throughout crypto and led to the bankruptcy of lending platform Voyager Digital and hedge fund Three Arrows Capital.
Terraform Labs CEO Do Kwon, whos wanted by South Korean authorities, also weighed in, quoting Bankman-Frieds tweet about the acquisition with an image of Torrhen Stark from George R.R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire novels as he bends the knee to Aegon Targaryen.
While many have tried to make light of the pending acquisition, its raised questions as to whether decentralization is just a pipe dream for crypto. After a wave of scandals and liquidity problems have plagued several companies over the past year, questions linger over where crypto investors are going to be able to invest.
Markets also reacted to news of the deal. Binances BNB soared after it was announced, rising about 9% to $366.97 as of Tuesday afternoon. Meanwhile, FTXs FTT cryptocurrency, after tanking 25% to about $16 on Monday, briefly recovered before sinking again, to about $9.80.
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