In early 2025, the crypto world was shaken by two seemingly unrelated events. On one hand, Bitcoin soared, tightening its grip on market dominance with figures rising above 63%. On the other, a once-celebrated altcoin project—Mantra—plummeted by more than 90%, vanishing from portfolios and headlines alike.
But behind the numbers and candlesticks, seasoned traders began to wonder: Was this just market dynamics—or the hidden hand of a larger game at play?
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Chapter 1: The Mantra of False Promises
Mantra had once been the darling of the DeFi space. Promising revolutionary staking systems and community-driven governance, it captured the imagination—and wallets—of retail investors and even some well-known venture firms.
Yet whispers began to surface: core developers of Mantra were quietly linked to certain long-time whales—entities known for subtly influencing Bitcoin’s price behind the curtains.
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Chapter 2: The Liquidity War
As Bitcoin dominance steadily rose earlier this year, liquidity began flowing out of altcoins. But something about Mantra’s collapse felt... off. Massive liquidations occurred during low-activity trading hours, driven by anonymous wallets with deep reserves.
On-chain analysts noticed a pattern: a slow bleed through DEXs followed by sudden, massive dumps onto centralized exchanges. The result? A liquidation cascade that wiped out overleveraged retail traders clinging to hope.
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Chapter 3: Conspiracy or Strategic Precision?
Unofficial reports suggested that a major hedge fund—quietly accumulating spot Bitcoin—was also shorting Mantra. The goal? To crush altcoin sentiment, reinforce the "Bitcoin is king" narrative, and pave the way for broader institutional adoption via the next wave of BTC ETFs.
The connection? Rumor has it, Mantra had once rejected a proposed partnership with a certain crypto conglomerate... the same one now suspected of orchestrating the selloff.
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Chapter 4: The Fall of Mantra, the Rise of the King
Today, with Mantra reduced to a distant memory on old watchlists, Bitcoin continues its unstoppable march. Institutional narrative dominates, headlines praise the "safe haven" of BTC, and the crowd cheers.
But for those who lost everything with Mantra, the scars remain—and so do the questions.
Was this merely survival of the fittest in a free market, or a coordinated takedown by crypto’s elite power brokers?
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Epilogue:
In the world of crypto, technology is only a small part of the game. Big money, narrative control, and network power often decide who soars—and who is sacrificed.
And as Bitcoin candles burn ever brighter, a whisper echoes from the depths of the chart: “Do not forget the fallen.”