Are Crypto Exchanges Faking Proof Of Reserves? CZ Warns Investors

Sunil Sharma
November 13, 2022 Updated September 4, 2025
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CoinGape has covered the cryptocurrency industry since 2017, aiming to provide informative insights to our readers. Our journal analysts bring years of experience in market analysis and blockchain technology to ensure factual accuracy and balanced reporting. By following our Editorial Policy, our writers verify every source, fact-check each story, rely on reputable sources, and attribute quotes and media correctly. We also follow a rigorous Review Methodology when evaluating exchanges and tools. From emerging blockchain projects and coin launches to industry events and technical developments, we cover all facets of the digital asset space with unwavering commitment to timely, relevant information.
Crypto Billionaire

In the light of FTX crash, Binance CEO CZs initiative to disclose proof of reserves has forced other market players to do the same. While, exchanges have started declaring their proof of funds, crypto leaders are raising allegations over large exchange inflows and outflows.

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What’s Going On At Crypto.com And Huobi?

As reported by WuBlockchain 280,000 ETH worth nearly $400 million were transferred from a crypto.com cold wallet to a Gate.io address. The crypto twitter community soon reported a 285,000 ETH transfer back to crypto.com cold wallet from Gate[.]io. These transfers took place before crypto.com and Gate.io released their proof of reserves snapshot.

FTX crisis

Source: Etherscan

Crypto.com CEO responded to allegations and said that these transfers were accidental. He added it was a mistake and the ethereum coins were planned to be transferred to another crypto.com cold storage. The ETH coins were by mistake transferred to a whitelisted address at Gate[.]io. He informed that transfer has been recovered back to crypto.com cold storage wallets.

crypto.com CEO

Another exchange reportedly involved in huge transfers before or after proof of reserves is Huobi. One of the Huobi wallets labelled as Huobi 34 transferred 10,000 ETH just after the proof of reserve snapshot. At the time of snapshot the mentioned wallet had 14,858 ETH while now there are only 4,044 ETH remaining.

FTX crisis

Huobi has also come out with a statement citing the above transfer to an institutional investor. The team has reported that all reserves are now recovered and operating normally.

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CZ Issues Warning For Investors, What’s Next?

Binance CEO CZ has released a warning for all crypto investors amid ongoing allegations of possible manipulation of reserves by exchanges. He informed investors that large movements of funds before or after release of proof of reserves by any exchange is a clear sign of problem.

CZ FTX crisis

As reported by CoinGape, FTX bankruptcy will impact many more crypto projects which were involved with FTX exchange and alameda research. Even Elon Musk has confirmed that he never believed Sam Bankman-Fried aka SBF had $3 billion that he was offering to Elon Musk for twitter acquisition.

SBF exchange and Alameda have invested in dozen of project that includes famous crypto projects like Aptos Labs, Near Protocol, paxos, Genesis digital assets etc. This makes it clear that FTX crisis is not over yet and many crypto firms are struggling to maintain their finances at the moment.

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Are Proof Of Reserves Sufficient For Transparency? 

Major Indian crypto exchange CoinDCX founder Sumit Gupta argued that proof of reserve provides only one side of the part as it is justification of asset value at any given instant. But what about the liabilities that exchanges hold? In his opinion proof of reserves without proof of liabilities in incomplete.

He proposed a solution called R2L ratio or Reserves to liabilities ratio,

“So let’s take it one step ahead and ensure this with Reserves to Liabilities (R2L) Ratio. Total assets owned (on/off chain) / Total liability & contingencies”

He shared a screenshot of R2L ratio for CoinDCX’s top 10 assets and announced that his exchange will publish R2L ratio position of the exchange periodically.

R2L ratio- CoinCDX

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Investment disclaimer: The content reflects the author’s personal views and current market conditions. Please conduct your own research before investing in cryptocurrencies, as neither the author nor the publication is responsible for any financial losses.
Ad Disclosure: This site may feature sponsored content and affiliate links. All advertisements are clearly labeled, and ad partners have no influence over our editorial content.

Why Trust CoinGape

CoinGape has covered the cryptocurrency industry since 2017, aiming to provide informative insights Read more…to our readers. Our journal analysts bring years of experience in market analysis and blockchain technology to ensure factual accuracy and balanced reporting. By following our Editorial Policy, our writers verify every source, fact-check each story, rely on reputable sources, and attribute quotes and media correctly. We also follow a rigorous Review Methodology when evaluating exchanges and tools. From emerging blockchain projects and coin launches to industry events and technical developments, we cover all facets of the digital asset space with unwavering commitment to timely, relevant information.

About Author
About Author
Sunil is a serial entrepreneur and has been working in blockchain and cryptocurrency space for 2 years now. Previously he co-founded Govt. of India supported startup InThinks and is currently Chief Editor at Coingape and CEO at SquadX, a fintech startup. He has published more than 100 articles on cryptocurrency and blockchain and has assisted a number of ICO's in their success. He has co-designed blockchain development industrial training and has hosted many interviews in past. Follow him on X at @sharmasunil8114 and reach out to him at sunil (at) coingape.com
Investment disclaimer: The content reflects the author’s personal views and current market conditions. Please conduct your own research before investing in cryptocurrencies, as neither the author nor the publication is responsible for any financial losses.
Ad Disclosure: This site may feature sponsored content and affiliate links. All advertisements are clearly labeled, and ad partners have no influence over our editorial content.