TL;DR: Well that escalated quickly. After what seemed to be a good-natured debate between steadfast cryptocurrency skeptic Nouriel Roubini, known as Dr. Doom for his perma-bear economic forecasting, and BitMEX CEO Arthur Hayes at a conference in Taipei, Roubini is charging the CEO with foul play, and worse.

BitMEX CEO “Ass****,” “Criminal,” “Coward,” and Will Be Sued

“@CryptoHayes,” New York University professor and economist Dr. Roubini fired off on Twitter 5 July 2019, “is the biggest asshole, jerk, manipulator and criminal in the world. He is sending to select media a doctored edited highlights video of the debate to make me look bad cutting off all my points.I will sue them. This is sick criminal behaviour. Will not pass you coward.”

That was one of Dr. Doom’s kinder, gentler tweets for the day.

Salt evidently extended from the marketed “Tangle in Taipei,” a debate about cryptocurrency between the two men and moderated by Andrew Neil of Press Holdings on 2 July 2019 at the Asia Blockchain Summit. Various accounts of the verbal sparring place Roubini’s comments in line with his open hostility toward the space, referring to BitMEX and its operations as “sick and rotten,” while “making money off of people going into financial ruin.”

Hayes, just as notoriously easy-going and confident, told the home crowd of enthusiasts Roubini’s take was borderline embarrassing, noting how poorly traditionally regulated markets have faired. Hayes reportedly doubled down on the importance of a hedge against increasingly cashless societies, insisting cryptocurrency was a choice, and a viable one.

Thin Grasp of Economics and Technology

Whatever the case, after the debate it was revealed video of the encounter would be in the proprietary hands of the exchange and Hayes, who Roubini promptly accused of censorship. When Hayes responded on social media, offering, “Don’t worry our tapes will exposure your thin grasp of economics and technology. After seeing these tapes, I would be surprised if you were allowed into any higher learning institution,” Dr. Doom was further triggered.

“For the 2nd time in a year these crypto cyber-terrorists who can’t win the battle of ideas,” Roubini began, “as they peddle junk shitcoins and useless technologies, now rely on cyber-terror to block/spam my email. Pure cyber-terror criminals who belong in jail. But they will eventually go bankrupt.” He then, only minutes later, called Hayes “a coward and wimp who looked like a total idiot in our debate. So he had to censor the video of the debate. A total crook and mafioso style thug.” Not too much later, Roubini compared the BitMEX CEO to gangsters El Chapo and Al Capone.

Publicly, Hayes appears to be unbothered by Roubini’s constant online hectoring, and hasn’t yet responded to the latest accusations and threats. His last comment on the matter was something of a victory lap, hours after the debate, insisting, “Now that I dusted @Nouriel it’s time to party. I will see everyone at AI club circa 11pm. You ain’t seen nothing yet.”

DISCLOSURE: The author holds cryptocurrency as part of his financial portfolio, including BCH.

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