Edited By
Linda Wang

A community-led bank run targeting Bitcoin Cash (BCH) and Monero (XMR) is underway, with users hoping to highlight and challenge exchange practices such as naked shorting. This initiative aims to boost liquidity in self-custodial wallets amid growing concerns over exchange transparency.
The BCH community is organizing regular bank runs every 1st and 15th of the month, urging people to withdraw their BCH holdings from exchanges. This move is a direct response to alleged practices by exchanges like Binance, which reportedly does not disclose its BCH reserves. While XMR has seen a surge in value, BCH's stability is in question due to perceived manipulation in the market.
The coordinated effort aims to expose and disrupt exchange practices that could harm holders and the broader cryptocurrency market. Participants are encouraged to withdraw BCH to self-custodial wallets, effectively reducing the liquidity available on exchanges. "Keeping money on exchanges just isn't the way to go anymore," one contributor remarked.
Many advocate for decentralization, emphasizing the importance of holding funds off exchanges.
There are concerns about transaction frustrations, as one user noted, "Kraken wouldnโt let me withdraw today."
Community members agree that even if outsiders attempt to front-run the initiative, itโs still a win if it raises interest in BCH.
"If BCH Bank Run is popular enough to noticeably move the price, itโs already working," stated a prominent member.
Exchanges have a troubling history of blocking withdrawals, which many see as a potential threat to liquidity. As BCH moves up in rankingsโclimbing from 23rd to as high as 10thโsome question whether this upward trend is linked to the bank run.
๐ "It's a great way to push both coins to the forefront."
๐ค "The market is a scam; we need to protect ourselves."
๐ฐ "Every little bit helps in building our future with self-custody."
๐ BCH has seen fluctuating rankings, currently pushing toward the top 10.
โ Naked shorting practices are under scrutiny, with many eager to withdraw funds.
๐ก The community is committed to raising awareness and promoting self-custody among participants.
Overall, as participants gear up for the scheduled bank run on February 15, they continue to share experiences and strategies on various forums, pushing the narrative of self-custodial financial independence in the crypto world.
As the BCH and XMR communities gear up for the next bank run on February 15, thereโs a strong chance the movement could gain more traction, possibly leading to increased liquidity in self-custodial wallets. Experts estimate that with higher participation, we could see BCH rankings push even further into the top 10, driven by heightened awareness of exchange practices. This momentum could also lead to exchanges reevaluating their policies on withdrawals to avoid backlash from the community. If successful, we might even see more cryptocurrencies adopting similar actions, thus reshaping market dynamics to favor participant control over their assets.
Reflecting on historical events, the current strategy bears resemblance to the early responses of bank clients during the 1930s Great Depression. Those who felt threatened by banking practices withdrew funds en masse, forcing the financial institutions to adapt to new realities. Just as those clients shifted power dynamics away from traditional banks, the BCH and XMR communities are fighting for their autonomy. This grassroots approach can redefine the future of cryptocurrency interactions, similar to how those early bank efforts reformed the banking sector's approach to customer trust and transparency.