MANTRA (OM) Token Crashes 90% to $0.37 From $6.30

John Patrick Mullin, co-founder and CEO of MANTRA, stepped forward to explain the jaw-dropping 90% plunge in the OM token, a crash that saw OM fall from $6.30 to just $0.37 within hours on April 13.

John Patrick Mullin, co-founder and CEO of MANTRA, stepped forward to offer an explanation for the jaw-dropping 90% plunge in the OM token, a crash that saw OM fall from $6.30 to just $0.37 within hours on April 13.

While some in the crypto community were quick to point fingers at the MANTRA team, accusing them of dumping their holdings, Mullin categorically denied the allegations. Instead, he pinned the blame on “reckless forced closures” initiated by centralized exchanges (CEXs) during a period of low liquidity, suggesting that the damage wasn't due to any internal foul play.

“The timing and depth of the crash suggest that a very sudden closure of account positions was initiated without sufficient warning or notice. This was not caused by the team, the MANTRA Chain Association, its core advisors, or MANTRA’s investors,” Mullin stated.

This had less to do with any one factor and more to do with a perfect storm during a very vulnerable time Sunday evening UTC (early Monday in Asia), when trading activity is historically thinner and markets are more susceptible to volatility. But it also points to a degree of negligence at best or possibly intentional market positioning taken by centralized exchanges.

While Mullin didn't name any specific exchange, he criticized the unchecked authority and discretion exercised by CEXs, arguing that their actions had disastrous consequences, especially given the low levels of liquidity in the market at the time.

“This level of discretion and authority exercised by a single exchange is dangerous, especially when considering the low levels of liquidity in the market at this time. It appears that a single entity was able to have a devastating impact on a single project and broader market segment,” he added.

MANTRA (OM) Token Recovers Above $1 After Crash

The OM token, which had once soared to a peak of $9 earlier this year, managed a partial recovery, climbing back above $1 at the time of writing. Mullin reassured the community that all team and investor tokens remain locked by publicly available vesting schedules and emphasized that OM’s core tokenomics remain intact.

"We are fundamentally strong. Today’s activity was triggered by reckless liquidations, not anything to do with the project. One thing we want to be clear on: this was not our team. We are still looking into it and will share more details on what happened and the steps we are taking shortly. In the meantime, please disregard any rumors or speculation.

But despite the recovery, the incident has left a bitter aftertaste. Critics argue that the official response lacked key details and transparency. In a follow-up post on X, Mullin said the team is actively compiling a full breakdown of the events and would host a community discussion to provide further clarity.

This incident comes amid broader turbulence in the altcoin space. Several tokens have recently experienced similar flash crashes on Binance, highlighting the growing volatility in the market. Notably, Act I: The AI Prophecy plummeted by 50%, DeXe saw a sharp 38% % fall, and dForce dropped by 19%, showcasing a wave of sudden and severe corrections across multiple projects.

These dips followed Binance's updated margin requirement policies, which reportedly heightened the risk of liquidations for undercollateralized positions, adding fuel to speculation that a domino effect may have triggered OM's freefall as well.

As MANTRA endeavors to deal with the fallout, the event has sparked renewed debate concerning centralized exchange practices, liquidity management, and the vulnerabilities of trading during off-hours. The coming days will be critical in determining whether OM can restore confidence or if the weekend crash marks a turning point in its trajectory.