Arc 23The Bitcoin Fortune Revealed

Zhao Chen kept Era Vanguard’s Tesla and Nvidia positions afloat through repeated purchases, collateral pledges, and SpaceX financing while short sellers and regulators scrutinized the fund. He ultimately disclosed that his fortune came from Bitcoin trading, leaving the story with the SEC filing public and Era Vanguard preparing another Nvidia amendment.

  • Zhao Chen watched Tesla fall toward its liquidation threshold as short sellers attacked, then used Henglong share pledges and additional purchases to keep Era Vanguard’s position intact.
  • Zhao Chen raised Era Vanguard’s Tesla stake to 26 million shares and its Nvidia holding to 94.1 million, then used a $1 billion SpaceX financing approval to buy still more Nvidia shares.
  • The SEC investigated Era Vanguard’s funding, and Zhao Chen ordered a transparent response while arranging Henglong’s pledge announcement and promising the company annual compensation.
  • Henglong’s board approved Zhao Chen’s compensation commitment, and Zhao Chen disclosed that he controlled Era Vanguard and had invested its funds in Tesla, Nvidia, and SpaceX.
  • Era Vanguard’s SEC filing identified Zhao Chen as its ultimate controller, making his holdings and rising wealth widely known.
  • When the SEC asked about cryptocurrency, Zhao Chen authorized the release of records showing that Bitcoin trading had generated $7.94 billion in net profits.
  • Lin Shicheng submitted four volumes tracing Zhao Chen’s Bitcoin purchases, trades, liquidation, and transfers into Era Vanguard, after which Bloomberg and Reuters publicized the disclosed profits.
Chapters 552–576 Vol. 6 Read

Ch. 552A Net Worth of Ten Billion Dollars

Zhao Chen arranged company announcements and discussed upcoming shareholders’ meetings before Shen Zhiyi joined him in New York to gain legal experience and keep him company. At Era Vanguard’s office, Shen Zhiyi saw that Times Pioneer Capital’s net assets approached US$10 billion.

  • Zhao Chen asked Chen Xi to issue a stock price fluctuation announcement and discussed Yunnan Agriculture’s April 22 shareholders’ meeting with her.
  • Chen Xi reported Cheng Jiaxun’s optimism about Yunnan Agriculture’s business and his confidence in Henglong as a shareholder.
  • Zhang Qingxue told Zhao Chen that Wang An wanted Henglong’s views on Bubble Mary’s valuation and the timing of its next funding round, and Zhao Chen said Henglong would support Wang An’s judgment.
  • Su Wantang invited Shen Zhiyi to New York to gain practical legal experience with Lawyer Lin and keep Zhao Chen company, and Shen Zhiyi flew from Shanghai to meet him.
  • Zhao Chen took Shen Zhiyi to dinner with Elon Musk and then to Era Vanguard’s New York office, where she saw a report showing Times Pioneer Capital’s net assets nearing US$10 billion.

Ch. 553An opportunity for the shorts

Zhao Chen learned that Tesla’s weak earnings and Era Vanguard’s reduced cash reserves could invite a coordinated short attack that might push the stock toward forced liquidation. After returning to New York, he assessed the collateral risks and prepared for the possibility that Tesla would fall below the brokerages’ thresholds.

  • Shen Zhiyi saw the enormous value of Zhao Chen’s Nvidia stake recorded in an offshore fund.
  • Lin Shicheng reported Tesla’s first-quarter losses and falling deliveries to Zhao Chen, who told him to make no trades and prepare to add collateral.
  • Zhao Chen and Shen Zhiyi spent the evening in Las Vegas at a Cirque du Soleil show before flying back to New York the next day.
  • Lin Shicheng told Zhao Chen that Tesla had fallen to about $248 in premarket trading and outlined margin-call and forced-liquidation thresholds of roughly $225 and $207.
  • Zhao Chen warned that short sellers could target $207, while Lin Shicheng noted that their newly disclosed Nvidia purchase left Era Vanguard with less cash to defend its Tesla position.

Ch. 554A conspiracy takes shape

Zhao Chen waited until Tesla neared $225 before adding $300 million in collateral, lowering Era Vanguard’s liquidation threshold to $187. The shorts learned Era Vanguard might have little cash left and planned to delay a pledge of its SpaceX shares while driving Tesla below the new threshold.

  • Lin Shicheng calculated that adding $300 million at $225 would lower Era Vanguard’s warning threshold to $203 and liquidation threshold to $187, and Zhao Chen decided to wait until the stock approached $225.
  • Short sellers drove Tesla down to $224.50 on April 26, triggering simultaneous margin calls from Era Vanguard’s four investment banks.
  • Zhao Chen ordered Lin Shicheng to transfer $300 million, and the banks reduced Era Vanguard’s financing to $2.7 billion and its liquidation threshold to $187.
  • News of Era Vanguard’s cash top-up spread among Wall Street trading desks, along with speculation that the fund had little cash remaining.
  • At the Explorers Club, the gray-haired old man and the bald man discussed delaying Era Vanguard’s attempt to pledge its SpaceX shares while pushing Tesla below $187.

Ch. 555The Hunt for Era Vanguard (I)

The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and Reuters exposed Era Vanguard’s leveraged Nvidia position and its dependence on Tesla shares pledged as collateral, drawing hedge funds’ attention to the fund’s precarious finances. Muddy Waters Capital publicly announced a Tesla short, arguing that Tesla’s fundamentals and Era Vanguard’s leverage could drive the stock sharply lower.

  • The Wall Street Journal reported that Era Vanguard held more than ten percent of Nvidia using leveraged financing backed by 16.6 million pledged Tesla shares, with Tesla nearing the banks’ forced-liquidation threshold.
  • The report detailed Era Vanguard’s limited cash, its locked-in Nvidia stake, and the uncertainty of using its SpaceX shares as collateral.
  • Bloomberg and Reuters published follow-up reports highlighting the collateral risk and regulatory scrutiny of Era Vanguard’s filings.
  • Hedge funds learned the details of Era Vanguard’s holdings and funding shortfall from the reports and judged the risk-reward of targeting Tesla attractive.
  • Muddy Waters Capital, through founder Carson Block, announced a Tesla short based on falling deliveries, a deteriorating balance sheet, and Elon Musk’s escalating SEC dispute.

Ch. 556The hunt for Era Vanguard (II)

Muddy Waters and major media outlets exposed Era Vanguard’s leveraged Tesla position, while Tesla’s stock plunged amid coordinated short attacks and spreading panic. Chen Xi and Zhang Qingxue prepared to finish their work in China so they could support Zhao Zong if the crisis in New York worsened.

  • Muddy Waters announced a short position targeting Era Vanguard, and Tesla fell below its $225 margin-call threshold.
  • Chen Xi read reports on Era Vanguard’s holdings and pledge terms, then told Zhang Qingxue that the disclosures suggested insiders at multiple investment banks had supplied information.
  • Zhang Qingxue urged Chen Xi to wrap up work at Yunnan Agriculture Group and prepare Henglong’s backup, while Chen Xi reported gains in Fenjiu and Henglong shares.
  • Tesla dropped below $220 the next day as heavy selling and unconfirmed bearish reports about its factories, orders, staffing, and battery supply fueled panic.

Ch. 557Hunting down Era Vanguard (III)

After Citron Research announced that it had turned bearish on Tesla, Zhao Chen asked Lin Shicheng to explain how Citron differed from Muddy Waters. The chapter left Era Vanguard facing pressure from both detailed short-selling investigations and fast-spreading media-driven speculation.

  • Citron Research published a report citing Tesla's falling deliveries, cash burn, and unreliable guidance as reasons for its new short position.
  • Zhao Chen called Lin Shicheng to ask how much influence Citron had on Wall Street.
  • Lin Shicheng explained that Muddy Waters built evidence-heavy reports, while Citron relied on public information, media attention, and rapidly changing calls.
  • Lin Shicheng described Citron's past shifts between bearish and bullish views on Tesla and explained why Andrew Left's calls drew less lasting confidence.
  • Zhao Chen understood that Muddy Waters and Citron posed combined professional and public-opinion threats to Era Vanguard.

Ch. 558The Hunt for Era Vanguard (IV)

Tesla’s share price neared $200 as Muddy Waters and Citron intensified their attacks, but buyers defended that level through the close. Elon Musk then issued a series of tweets disputing claims about Era Vanguard’s margin position, Tesla’s demand and production, and the short sellers’ reports, leaving the conflict openly contested.

  • Tesla’s share price plunged toward $200, where large buy orders repeatedly blocked the decline and helped it close near $204.
  • Elon Musk said rumors that Era Vanguard faced an imminent margin wipeout were false and that its additional margin was posted and its collateral secure.
  • Musk argued that subsidy changes had already been absorbed by pricing and that growing reservations in Europe and China contradicted claims of peak demand.
  • Musk disputed Muddy Waters’ interpretation of Tesla’s deliveries and production, and criticized Citron for reversing its outlook on Tesla.
  • Musk said the Fremont Factory’s brief production-line adjustment was routine maintenance, not a shutdown caused by supply problems.
  • Musk pointed to Tesla’s planned Shanghai factory and warned short sellers to consider what kind of company they were betting against.

Ch. 559Hunting Era Vanguard (V)

Tesla rebounded above $210 after reports of progress at its Shanghai Gigafactory, but Morgan Stanley’s $10 worst-case scenario renewed pressure on the stock and alarmed Shen Zhiyi over Era Vanguard’s pledged shares. Zhao Chen defended the outlook to her, then declined Lin Shicheng’s call because he needed to speak with Musk.

  • Tesla shares rose from about $206 to close at $212 after reports that construction at its Shanghai Gigafactory was ahead of schedule.
  • Lin Shicheng and Zhao Chen reviewed Musk’s rebuttals to short sellers’ claims about demand, Citron’s credibility, and Fremont production pauses.
  • Tesla shares later fell below $200 after Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas cut his worst-case estimate to $10, and Musk accused the bank of helping short sellers.
  • Shen Zhiyi worried that Era Vanguard’s pledged Tesla shares could become worthless if the extreme scenario came true, and Zhao Chen explained that Morgan Stanley still held a $230 price target.
  • Zhao Chen declined Lin Shicheng’s call so he could speak with Musk.

Ch. 560Pledging more collateral again

Zhao Chen and Musk agreed to defend Tesla as Era Vanguard faced mounting liquidation pressure. After Zhao Chen committed Era Vanguard’s last $125 million in cash as collateral, he moved to prepare a pledge of its SpaceX equity, while Wall Street learned the firm had nearly exhausted its working capital.

  • Zhao Chen spoke with Musk, and they agreed to meet at Cape Canaveral and put a floor under Tesla.
  • Zhao Chen ordered Lin Shicheng to pledge all $125 million of Era Vanguard’s remaining cash as collateral, leaving the firm with warning and liquidation prices of about $194 and $178 per share.
  • Lin Shicheng warned that SpaceX’s rules required board approval before its private shares could be pledged, and the process could take days.
  • Zhao Chen told Lin Shicheng to prepare the SpaceX pledge documents and said he would seek Musk’s help with the board.
  • Wall Street brokers pieced together news of Era Vanguard’s three collateral top-ups, and short sellers celebrated its dwindling cash reserves.

Ch. 561Preparations for the Counterattack

Zhao Chen met Elon Musk at Cape Canaveral and asked to increase Era Vanguard’s Tesla holdings after Musk refused to let him pledge SpaceX shares. Musk ultimately agreed, leaving Zhao Chen free to prepare a counterattack against the short sellers.

  • Zhao Chen proposed pledging his SpaceX shares, but Musk explained that the board would reject the pledge.
  • Zhao Chen offered instead to increase Era Vanguard’s Tesla stake without seeking a board seat or interfering in company decisions.
  • Musk warned that exceeding 9.9% could threaten his trust in Zhao Chen and asked whether Era Vanguard still had money to invest.
  • Zhao Chen said he had stayed with Tesla through its decline and declared himself his own ammunition.
  • Musk agreed to let Zhao Chen buy more Tesla shares on the secondary market.

Ch. 562Pledging Henglong shares

Zhao Chen accepted a harsh HK$24 billion share-pledge deal to raise emergency funds for Era Vanguard, despite breaking Henglong's public promise not to pledge shares. The funds could arrive in one or two days, but Tesla's price was nearing the liquidation threshold and the short sellers might not give them time.

  • Su Wantang, Chen Xi, and Zhang Qingxue arrived in New York and brought Zhao Chen the financing agreement they had secured from a Hong Kong family office.
  • Zhang Qingxue explained that the HK$24 billion loan required Zhao Chen to pledge all 360 million of his Henglong shares, with Su Wantang and Shen Zhiyi pledging another 56 million shares.
  • Chen Xi explained that the lender would restrict Henglong Capital's trades and require written approval for both reductions and additions to its positions.
  • Zhao Chen accepted the deal, knowing the pledge would violate Henglong's public promise and could damage shareholder trust, but believing it was necessary to prevent Era Vanguard's Tesla and Nvidia positions from collapsing.
  • Chen Xi said the funds could arrive in one or two days, while Zhao Chen noted that Tesla had fallen to $188, less than $10 above its liquidation threshold, and wondered whether the short sellers would allow them that time.

Ch. 563Pressure to the Limit

Tesla closed at $180, just above Era Vanguard's $178 liquidation line, as bulls fought off a day of heavy short selling. At a hedge fund gathering, an analyst explained that Era Vanguard could not easily sell its Nvidia stake without risking severe legal and regulatory consequences.

  • Short sellers drove Tesla down toward $179.50, but buyers held the price up and the stock closed at $180.
  • Shen Zhiyi noted the close, while Su Wantang saw that Zhao Chen remained tense.
  • At the Explorers Club, an analyst questioned why Era Vanguard had not sold some of its Nvidia shares to cover its Tesla margin shortfall.
  • The analyst said selling Nvidia could trigger short-swing profit recapture, SEC penalties over Era Vanguard's Schedule 13D, and renewed FTC scrutiny.
  • The analyst concluded that Era Vanguard faced a dead end: selling Nvidia could bring greater harm, while holding on risked liquidation of its pledged Tesla shares.

Ch. 564Counterattack (I)

Zhao Chen used newly arrived funds to buy Tesla shares and blunt the shorts’ attempt to trigger Era Vanguard’s liquidation, sending the stock sharply higher. With Era Vanguard’s stake now above 10%, he directed Zhang Qingxue and Lin Shicheng to prepare a Schedule 13D describing the firm as a passive, long-term strategic shareholder.

  • On May 9, Tesla fell toward $178, but heavy buy orders at $178.50 absorbed the shorts’ selling and drove the price up to close at $188.
  • Zhao Chen revealed that he had bought four million shares at an average price of $181.50, bringing Era Vanguard’s total Tesla holdings to 20.6 million shares.
  • Chen Xi calculated that Era Vanguard now owned about 11.7% of Tesla’s shares, exceeding the 10% disclosure threshold.
  • Zhao Chen told Zhang Qingxue to prepare the Schedule 13D with Lin Shicheng and state that Era Vanguard would not seek a board seat or influence Tesla’s management.

Ch. 565Counterattack (II)

Zhao Chen strengthened Era Vanguard’s Tesla position by pledging newly bought shares, lowering the estimated liquidation threshold and revealing that the fund still had buying power. The move rattled the shorts, who realized their earlier assumptions were obsolete and decided to report the unexplained funding source to the SEC.

  • Chen Xi reported that Era Vanguard had bought four million Tesla shares and Zhao Chen ordered 3.4 million of them pledged as additional collateral.
  • Zhao Chen told Zhang Qingxue to file the Schedule 13D through the normal process, while Era Vanguard’s expanded stake and new pledge became public.
  • News of the pledge spread across Wall Street, encouraging Tesla bulls and prompting institutional investors to reassess the stock.
  • At the Explorers Club, the gray-haired old man and other short sellers recognized that Era Vanguard could keep buying and pledging shares, leaving them trapped between continued selling and costly covering.
  • The gray-haired old man ordered his associates to report Era Vanguard’s unexplained funding source to the SEC.

Ch. 566The counterattack (III)

Era Vanguard continued buying Tesla shares, forcing the Short-Selling Alliance to confront rising prices and growing distrust among its members. Tesla ended Friday at US$195 after a fierce battle around US$200, while Era Vanguard increased its holdings and the shorts entered the weekend uncertain about how much ammunition it still had.

  • An analyst reported that Era Vanguard had raised its stake to nearly 11.7 percent, pledged another 3.4 million shares, and continued buying, making the shorts fear that whoever covered last would lose the most.
  • Before Friday's opening bell, Tesla's premarket price rose to US$197 as Era Vanguard's aggressive buying pushed the stock above US$200.
  • Short sellers flooded the market with sell orders around US$200, but Era Vanguard repeatedly bought shares and restored the price whenever it fell below that level.
  • Several short positions quietly covered nearly twenty percent of their exposure, deepening suspicions among the alliance as the battle continued.
  • Tesla closed at US$195 after concentrated late selling, while Era Vanguard accumulated more shares and the shorts remained unsure whether its supply of funds had run out.

Ch. 567Counterattack (IV)

Wall Street debated whether Era Vanguard’s buying could trigger a Tesla short squeeze, while an SEC complaint questioned the source of its funding. After Lin Shicheng explained the regulatory risks, Zhao Chen ordered the fund to file its Schedule 13D amendment and buy aggressively before any investigation began.

  • Investors and analysts debated whether Era Vanguard’s Tesla purchases could force short sellers to cover, despite Tesla’s weak fundamentals.
  • A nonpublic SEC complaint alleged that Era Vanguard’s funding might have come from improper offshore financing, and the news gave short sellers some relief.
  • Lin Shicheng told Zhao Chen that an investigation could delay cross-border transfers and expose Era Vanguard’s funding strategy, but said the fund could demonstrate its money was clean.
  • Zhao Chen ordered the second Schedule 13D amendment filed before Monday’s market open and directed Era Vanguard to buy Tesla shares aggressively before regulators acted.

Ch. 568Completing the Setup (Part One)

Era Vanguard defended Tesla’s $200 price floor while building a large Nvidia position, then Zhao Chen agreed to stop increasing its Tesla stake after Elon Musk called him. By the end of May, the fund held 26 million Tesla shares and about 94.1 million Nvidia shares, leaving the short sellers to contend with its cross-holdings.

  • Era Vanguard bought Tesla shares whenever the price fell below $200, keeping the stock in a narrow range while short sellers failed to break the support level.
  • Era Vanguard resumed buying Nvidia and disclosed its growing holdings through frequent Schedule 13D amendments, prompting the market to recognize its ability to fight on two fronts.
  • By the end of May, Era Vanguard had raised its Tesla holdings to 26 million shares at an average cost of about $256.70, while Tesla closed at $230.
  • Elon Musk called Zhao Chen and asked him to stop increasing Era Vanguard’s Tesla stake, and Zhao Chen agreed that 26 million shares were enough.
  • Era Vanguard added about 22.85 million Nvidia shares during May, bringing its total holdings to approximately 94.1 million shares, or 15.5% of Nvidia.
  • Zhao Chen told Lin Shicheng that Era Vanguard would hold its positions and use its Tesla and Nvidia holdings to cushion each other against short sellers.

Ch. 569Completing the strategy (Part two)

After Era Vanguard secured $1 billion by pledging its SpaceX shares, Zhao Chen used the financing and matching leverage to raise the firm’s Nvidia stake to nearly 18%. He then ordered Zhang Qingxue and Lawyer Lin to promise Nvidia that Era Vanguard would not buy, sell, seek a board seat, or interfere in operations for five years.

  • SpaceX’s board approved Era Vanguard’s $1 billion financing, with Elon Musk signing the resolution.
  • Zhao Chen directed Chen Xi to invest $2 billion in Nvidia, bringing Era Vanguard’s holdings to about 107.8 million shares, or 17.8%.
  • Zhang Qingxue explained that the new purchase required an amended SEC filing and that the SpaceX financing had a traceable fund path.
  • Zhao Chen instructed Zhang Qingxue and Lawyer Lin to tell Nvidia that Era Vanguard would make no further purchases, seek no board seat, avoid operational interference, and sell no shares for five years.
  • Zhang Qingxue and Chen Xi warned Zhao Chen that the pledge surrendered Era Vanguard’s flexibility, but he said it would show Nvidia that the firm was a committed long-term investor.

Ch. 570A desperate struggle

As Tesla rebounded, large short sellers became trapped by their positions, while Era Vanguard paused its buying and faced accusations from Muddy Waters and Citron. The SEC requested more information about Zhao Chen’s funding chain, and he told Lin Shicheng to prepare a meticulous response as the short sellers’ pressure campaign intensified.

  • Smaller hedge funds covered their lighter Tesla short positions, while analysts on CNBC said large short sellers were trapped and their alliance was likely to fracture.
  • A Bloomberg alert reported that Era Vanguard had paused increasing its stakes, and a gray-haired short seller warned that Zhao Chen had already accumulated enough Tesla and Nvidia shares.
  • Carson Block accused Era Vanguard on CNBC of using opaque offshore loans, and Andrew Left publicly questioned its filings and funding sources.
  • A former SEC enforcement official said regulators had to investigate Era Vanguard’s large cross-holdings and pledged equity structure.
  • Lin Shicheng told Zhao Chen that the SEC had requested supplementary documents tracing the May funding chain, and Zhao ordered him to prepare a precise, transparent response.

Ch. 571Responding calmly

Zhao Chen faced the impending public exposure of his control of Era Vanguard, the fallout from Henglong Group’s share pledge, and the attention from his university and the public. He chose to disclose the funding chain, compensate Henglong Group, and prepare for the regulatory and social consequences.

  • Lin Shicheng warned Zhao Chen that the SEC response would publicly reveal his control of Era Vanguard and expose Henglong Group’s role in its funding.
  • Zhang Qingxue told Zhao Chen that Henglong Group’s pledge of 360 million shares would trigger a public announcement and likely regulatory scrutiny, while Shen Zhiyi raised the attention he would receive from Zhengfa University and other institutions.
  • Zhao Chen ordered Lin Shicheng to submit the SEC response through normal procedures and decided to personally compensate Henglong Group 200 million Hong Kong dollars annually until the pledged shares were released.
  • Zhao Chen asked Shen Zhiyi to quietly contact Zhengfa University and arrange any invitation as an ordinary Alumni Salon rather than a public event.
  • Zhao Chen directed Zhang Qingxue and Chen Xi to prepare Henglong Group’s pledge announcement and an online board meeting for two days after they returned home.
  • Zhao Chen instructed Lin Shicheng to update Era Vanguard’s amended Schedule 13D filing and prepare a complete SEC inquiry response with the pledge documents, exchange registration, transfer records, and Henglong Group board resolution.

Ch. 572Compensation plan

Zhao Chen told Henglong Group’s board that he had used funds from pledging his shares to increase Era Vanguard’s holdings in Tesla and Nvidia, revealing that he controlled the prominent fund. The board unanimously approved his HK$200 million annual compensation plan, and its publication drew intense market attention while Henglong’s share price remained nearly flat.

  • Shen Jue asked Zhao Chen to explain how he had used the funds raised by pledging his Henglong shares and whether the pledge threatened the company’s control.
  • Zhao Chen disclosed that he had increased Era Vanguard’s holdings in Tesla and Nvidia and that he controlled the fund, which was also a major Tesla and Nvidia shareholder and a SpaceX investor.
  • Henglong’s directors connected Era Vanguard’s investments to Zhao Chen’s earlier involvement with Green Energy Technology and his plan to turn Henglong into an investment holding platform.
  • The board approved Zhao Chen’s commitment to pay Henglong HK$200 million annually until his pledged shares were released, with the funds going to capital reserves under independent-director supervision.
  • Liu Mingyu submitted the pledge announcement and compensation letter to HKEXnews, and financial media and investors quickly focused on the unprecedented compensation commitment.
  • Henglong’s share price opened slightly higher before settling near flat as trading volume grew and long-term capital absorbed selling.

Ch. 573World-renowned

Era Vanguard disclosed that its ultimate controller was Zhao Chen, a twenty-three-year-old Chinese investor who also chaired Henglong Group. The revelation stunned Wall Street and China’s financial world, while estimates placed Zhao Chen’s net worth at $12 billion to $15 billion and suggested it could be understated.

  • Era Vanguard submitted its SEC response, naming Zhao Chen as Times Pioneer Capital’s ultimate controller and including documents tracing its funds.
  • Bloomberg and Reuters revealed Zhao Chen’s identity, shocking traders and the investors who had fought Era Vanguard in Tesla and Nvidia.
  • US media reported Zhao Chen’s rapid expansion across Henglong Group and Era Vanguard, while commentators emphasized his age and the scale of his holdings.
  • Chinese financial outlets publicized Zhao Chen’s investment history, and Zhengfa University alumni and staff reacted to his sudden fame.
  • The Shan City Government asked Zhao Chen’s secretariat to arrange a discussion after his return to China.
  • Forbes Chinese Website estimated Zhao Chen’s wealth at $12 billion to $15 billion, potentially placing him among China’s top twenty richest people.

Ch. 574The SEC's second inquiry

The SEC asked Era Vanguard to document the source of its initial capital, including any cryptocurrency transactions and compliance records. Zhao Chen approved submitting a complete paper trail showing how his Bitcoin investments grew from 500 million Hong Kong dollars to nearly 8 billion US dollars, leaving his wealth’s origins set to become public.

  • Lin Shicheng told Zhao Chen that the SEC’s second inquiry requested details about Era Vanguard’s initial capital and explicitly asked about cryptocurrency trading.
  • Lin Shicheng presented more than two hundred pages of records tracing Zhao Chen’s funds from the pledge of Henglong Holdings shares through Bitcoin purchases, trading, liquidation, and offshore deposits.
  • Zhao Chen reviewed the records documenting the purchase of 355,000 Bitcoin, trading that increased the holdings above 500,000, and a net profit of 7.94 billion US dollars after liquidation.
  • Zhao Chen instructed Lin Shicheng to submit every Bitcoin transaction record and to check potential tax, anti-money-laundering, and cross-border transfer issues.
  • Lin Shicheng explained that the supporting compliance records and legal opinion were ready, and Zhao Chen approved making the full source of his wealth public.

Ch. 575Complete reconstruction of the Bitcoin trading records

Lin Shicheng organized the documents tracing Era Vanguard’s initial capital to Zhao Chen’s Bitcoin profits into a four-phase appendix for the SEC. After verifying the supporting records formed a complete chain, he reported the framework to Zhao Chen at dawn.

  • Lin Shicheng returned to the Era Vanguard office and began arranging more than two hundred pages of financial records for the SEC.
  • Lin Shicheng documented how Zhao Chen raised seed capital by pledging his Henglong Holdings shares and used the funds to buy Bitcoin through Coinbase and Bitfinex.
  • Lin Shicheng matched Zhao Chen’s Bitcoin swing trades and later purchases with exchange statements, establishing holdings of approximately 550,000 coins.
  • Lin Shicheng documented Zhao Chen’s December 2017 liquidation of about 500,000 Bitcoins, which produced approximately $7.94 billion in net profits.
  • Lin Shicheng traced those profits into Era Vanguard’s US stock investments and verified that the dates, amounts, and accounts matched across the records.
  • Lin Shicheng told Zhao Chen that the four-phase framework was complete, and Zhao Chen thanked him.

Ch. 576Attachments Submitted to EDGAR

Lin Shicheng submitted Era Vanguard’s more than two hundred pages of supporting documents to the SEC, tracing its initial funds from a Henglong Holdings pledge through Bitcoin trading and later investments. Bloomberg and Reuters quickly reported the disclosed $7.94 billion profit and verified that the Bitcoin records matched historical prices, while Lin began preparing an amended Nvidia Schedule 13D filing.

  • Lin Shicheng cross-checked and bound four volumes of documents tracing Era Vanguard’s funding, Bitcoin trades, liquidation, and subsequent fund transfers.
  • Lin Shicheng submitted the SEC response and its attachments through EDGAR, then sent the confirmation receipt to Zhao Chen, Chen Xi, and Zhang Qingxue.
  • Bloomberg reported that Era Vanguard had disclosed its Bitcoin trading records and earned $7.94 billion in net profit.
  • Reuters reported Era Vanguard’s average Bitcoin purchase and sale prices, peak holdings, and use of the proceeds to invest in Tesla, Nvidia, and SpaceX.
  • Reuters analysts found that Era Vanguard’s disclosed execution prices matched historical Bitcoin prices and noted that it sold near the period’s peak.
  • Lin Shicheng began organizing materials for an amended Nvidia Schedule 13D filing due the next day.
Arc 23 of 30
Arc 23 of 30