The crypto market is owned by the exchanges. Even P2P trades rely on them for pricing. Try buying bitcoin for a price that differs significantly from what the exchanges say it is worth,
But the exchanges can also create equity (stable coins) and trade alongside and even against their own customers. So they are not just simple market makers. They are the central bankers of crypto --- and without any checks or balances, they are beholden to nothing and no one but themselves.
Such a market is not really "free" is it?. If collusion and manipulation can happen, it will happen. And the lack of regulation and accountability virtually insures it.
x______________•6h ago