Investors Who Lost Big in Poloniex Flash Crash Receive Bitcoin Refunds

Poloniex allowed margin trading on the coin until a flash crash wiped out 1,800 bitcoins worth $13.5 million at the time

AccessTimeIconAug 13, 2019 at 4:00 a.m. UTC
Updated Aug 18, 2021 at 12:43 p.m. UTC

Presented By Icon

Election 2024 coverage presented by

Stand with crypto

Poloniex is now crediting trading fees in bitcoin to lenders who lost funds in a May market crash involving the obscure cryptocurrency clams (CLAM).

According to an official blog posting, Circle’s Poloniex exchange will cover lost bitcoin funds by covering trading fees in bitcoin. Fees will be covered back from June 6 until an account is fully repaid. Poloniex’s clam margin trading market experience a flash-crash on May 26. A 2014 airdropped token credited to holders of bitcoin, litecoin and dogecoin, Poloniex allowed margin trading on the coin till a flash crash wiped out 1,800 bitcoins worth $13.5 million at the time.

  • Bitcoin Mining in the U.S. Will Become 'a Lot More Decentralized': Core Scientific CEO
    13:18
    Bitcoin Mining in the U.S. Will Become 'a Lot More Decentralized': Core Scientific CEO
  • Binance to Discontinue Its Nigerian Naira Services After Government Scrutiny
    05:10
    Binance to Discontinue Its Nigerian Naira Services After Government Scrutiny
  • The first video of the year 2024
    04:07
    The first video of the year 2024
  • The last regression video of the year 3.67.0
    40:07
    The last regression video of the year 3.67.0
  • The drop crashed clam’s price 77 percent in just 45 minutes.

    socialized the lost coins to the exchanges bitcoin margin lending pool. A total of 0.4 percent of Poloniex users lost 16.2 percent of their funds held in the pool to cover the defaulted loans.

    At the time, Poloniex blamed the flash crash on the velocity of sell orders along with a general lack of liquidity within clam margin trading. Poloniex said it was pursuing borrowers who defaulted but the conclusion of the effort has yet to be disclosed.

    On June 14, Poloniex distributed 180 bitcoins to 10% of those affected by the flash crash. The distribution was an initial method to repay the bitcoin lending pool. Under a new policy, lost bitcoin funds will be returned by repaying exchange fees in bitcoin.

    In response to the crash, Poloniex closed margin trading on BTS, CLAM, FCT, and MAID.

    Imagine via Shutterstock

    Disclosure

    Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information have been updated.

    CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk has adopted a set of principles aimed at ensuring the integrity, editorial independence and freedom from bias of its publications. CoinDesk is part of the Bullish group, which owns and invests in digital asset businesses and digital assets. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive Bullish group equity-based compensation. Bullish was incubated by technology investor Block.one.


    Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk's longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.