“No Grifter Left Behind”: Ex-IMF Economist Reacts to Brutal Bitcoin and Crypto Selloff

TL;DR

  • Former IMF economist Mark Dow renewed his criticism of Bitcoin after the latest crypto market correction, arguing that aggressive promotion from influencers marked a local top for the sector.
  • Dow referenced public figures such as Grant Cardone while repeating his long-standing view that Bitcoin lacks intrinsic value.
  • Despite the sharp decline, institutional investors and crypto analysts continue supporting Bitcoin’s long-term growth, pointing to expanding ETF demand and ongoing adoption across financial markets.

Bitcoin and the broader crypto market faced renewed selling pressure this week as traders reacted to macroeconomic uncertainty, profit-taking, and weaker sentiment across risk assets. The downturn pushed several major digital assets lower, reviving criticism from some long-time skeptics of the industry.

Among the most vocal critics was former International Monetary Fund economist Mark Dow, who returned to social media to comment on the latest Bitcoin correction. Dow argued that the market reached excessive levels of promotion during the recent rally and pointed to celebrity-driven advertising campaigns as a warning sign for investors.

Bitcoin Selloff Revives Old Debate

Dow, who became widely known after publicly shorting Bitcoin near its 2017 market peak, claimed that heavy marketing from financial influencers reflected speculative excess rather than organic adoption. He repeated his view that many investors entered the market through unrealistic promises of rapid wealth creation.

The former economist also referenced Grant Cardone and his “10X” brand, arguing that public endorsements from major online personalities often appear near overheated market conditions. According to Dow, the latest correction reinforced his long-standing skepticism toward digital assets.

Dow has maintained a bearish stance on crypto for years. In several interviews and social media posts, he argued that Bitcoin should eventually lose all value because he believes the asset lacks productive utility compared with traditional financial instruments and cash-flow-generating investments.

Crypto Industry Maintains Institutional Momentum

Despite Dow’s criticism, institutional participation in the crypto sector continues expanding. Spot Bitcoin ETF in the United States recorded billions of dollars in inflows during 2024 and 2025, while major asset managers increased exposure to digital assets through regulated investment products.

Several analysts also noted that Bitcoin historically experiences corrections of 10% to 20% during bull cycles. Supporters of the cryptocurrency argue that volatility remains part of the asset’s structure as adoption spreads among corporations, financial firms, and retail investors worldwide.

At the same time, crypto traders resurfaced older posts from Dow predicting Bitcoin’s eventual collapse. Critics pointed out that similar bearish forecasts appeared repeatedly over the past decade, even as Bitcoin recovered from multiple downturns and later reached new record highs.

read the full story

CryptoQuant CEO Warns Bitcoin Bottom Is Still Ahead

TL;DR CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju states that Bitcoin’s cycle bottom is still not confirmed, based…

Crypto Traders Push BTC Near $60K as 30% YTD Decline Keeps 2026 Bear Market in Focus

Bitcoin snapped a two-day, $4,500 slide on Friday, experiencing choppy trading between $58,500 and…

Aave, Solana ecosystem tokens lead crypto rebound as bitcoin steadies near $60,000

Tokenized stock trading fueled fresh momentum across the Solana ecosystem, while Aave founder hinted…

British Billionaire: Bitcoin Will Die With a 'Whimper'

Legendary British billionaire investor and GMO co-founder Jeremy Grantham has leveled a scathing…

StablecoinX Begins Nasdaq Trading as First Public ENA Treasury Vehicle

StablecoinX Inc. (Nasdaq: USDE) began trading Friday after closing its SPAC merger with TLGY…

Ripple CTO David Schwartz Clarifies XRP And Bitcoin Origins In Timeline Debate

Ripple CTO Emeritus David Schwartz pushed back on claims that XRP predates Bitcoin, separating…

Fed Official Kashkari Gives Rate Hike Warning: How Will US Stocks and Bitcoin React?

The Kashkari rate hike call for 2026 and a sticky services inflation warning weigh on US stocks and…

Bitcoin Faces Divergent Views: Grantham Predicts Decline, Salinas Pliego Bets Big

Bitcoin is experiencing a truly peculiar period. On one hand, Jeremy Grantham, Wall Street’s…

'Just a Matter of Time': Bloomberg Predicts Tether Will Flip Bitcoin

Bloomberg Intelligence senior macro strategist Mike McGlone is convinced that it is "just a matter…

Bitcoin Slips Below $59,000 Following May PCE Inflation Report

Bitcoin slipped below $59,000 after May PCE inflation came in at 4.1% year-over-year, with market…

Crypto Markets Erase $120B as Bitcoin Tanks to $58K Amid Growing Strategy FUD: Weekly Recap

It was another paiful weeks for the crypto bulls but the worst might still not be over.

Bitcoin makes first sub-$60K close since Q3 2024 as tech stocks enter ‘deep bear market’

Bitcoin risked turning $60,000 into resistance as BTC price weakness persisted following another…

Strategy's Saylor Acknowledges 'Volatility Test' as STRC Hits New Low on Bitcoin Weakness

Strategy’s flagship preferred stock tumbled again when U.S. markets opened, setting another record…

BitGo Cuts Nearly 15% of Staff Six Months After IPO, Refocuses on Stablecoins and AI

Crypto custodian BitGo is cutting approximately 15% of its workforce, CEO Mike Belshe announced…

Bitcoin ETFs Lose $696 Million as Blackrock and Fidelity Lead Broad Crypto Selloff

Crypto ETF flows deteriorated sharply on Thursday, June 25, as bitcoin ETFs posted a sixth straight…

Bitcoin 25-Delta Put-Call Skew Widens Amid Market Consolidation

Bitcoin options skew points to defensive trader positioning as put demand rises and the market…

Bitcoin Tests $59K as ETFs Shed $692M, Options Expiry Looms

Bitcoin fell to around $59,400 as $691 million fled spot ETFs, the most since May, ahead of Friday's…

Bitcoin Price Analysis: Is Another Leg Lower Coming After the $58K Drop?

Bitcoin remains under pressure despite another strong reaction from the $58K to $60K demand zone.…

Oman Launches Mandatory National Bitcoin Mining Pool In State-Backed Push

Oman has launched Omanhash.om, a mandatory national Bitcoin mining pool for licensed miners, with…