Citadel and Virtu are now being questioned about MMTLP in the latest subpoena court document, shared by the retail investor community.
The ongoing saga of Meta Materials Inc. and its associated ticker, MMTLP, has become a focal point for discussions about the injustices faced by retail investors.
Central to this narrative are the recent legal developments, including a subpoena issued to Virtu Financial, LLC, and the broader implications of the actions taken by Citadel Securities and Virtu that have raised significant concerns about market integrity and fairness.
The Bankruptcy of Meta Materials Inc.
Meta Materials Inc., a company specializing in advanced materials and nanotechnology, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in August 2024, resulting in the plunge of investor confidence.
The bankruptcy proceedings have left many retail investors feeling abandoned and further trapped, particularly as the company left investors without a clear path for recovery.
The Role of MMTLP
FINRA placed a U3 halt on MMTLP in December of 2022, suspending trading and leading to its delisting.
This decision effectively locked retail investors out of their investments, preventing them from selling their shares and recouping any losses.
Retail investors have sent out over 40,000 letters to congress members educating them on what led to one of the most discerning events of Wall Street since the ‘meme stock’ halts of 2021.
Several congress members have backed the cry from retail investors, with RFK Jr. standing out as a prominent figure.
Subpoena Issued to Virtu Financial
A significant legal development in this case is the issuance of a subpoena by Christina Lovato, the Chapter 7 Trustee, directed at Virtu Financial, LLC.
This subpoena, filed under the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Nevada, seeks the production of documents related to the routing and handling of orders for Meta and MMTLP shares.
Key Requests in the Subpoena
The subpoena requests include:
- Routing Orders: Messages regarding the routing of orders for Meta and MMTLP shares using various protocols.
- Delivery Failures: Communications related to instances where Citadel failed to deliver shares and how it rectified these failures.
- Position Data: Records of Citadel’s positions in Meta and MMTLP, including details on short sales.
These requests aim to uncover potential irregularities and manipulative practices that could have adversely affected retail investors.
This subpoena is going to play a massive role in uncovering the hidden truths behind the financial fraud and injustice surrounding MMTLP.
The Impact on Retail Investors
Retail investors, often at a disadvantage compared to institutional players, have suffered greatly due to the combination of Meta Materials’ bankruptcy and the U3 halt on MMTLP.
The inability to sell shares or recover investments has caused significant financial strain and has led to a widespread erosion of trust in the market.
The retail investor community has put pressure on FINRA CEO Robert Cook, former SEC Chair Gary Gensler, and even Rep. Ralph Norman for initially failing to keep to his promises on issuing subpoenas, though that may now have changed.
Transparency and Communication Failures
The lack of clear communication from regulatory bodies like FINRA and the broader financial system regarding the implications of these decisions has left investors in a state of uncertainty.
This failure to inform investors about their rights and the status of their investments, particularly from the SEC after being questioned by congress, is symptomatic of a larger issue within the financial system, where retail investors often feel marginalized.
Citadel and Virtu: A History of Market Manipulation
The juxtaposition of Meta Materials’ bankruptcy, the halt and delisting of MMTLP, and the actions of Citadel and Virtu raises serious questions about market integrity.
Both firms have faced scrutiny for their trading practices, particularly regarding high-frequency trading and their role as market makers.
Regulatory and Public Scrutiny
Citadel and Virtu have been the subject of numerous allegations related to market manipulation.
Their practices have been criticized for creating an uneven playing field that disadvantages retail investors, who lack the resources to compete with the technological advantages of these institutional giants.
Many are looking toward the political landscape for support, particularly under the Trump administration, which has seen a resurgence in scrutiny of firms like Citadel.
Truth Social has openly criticized Ken Griffin, the CEO of Citadel in the past, alleging the illegal manipulation of stocks.
“Rather than support our common sense efforts to promote transparency and compliance, Citadel Securities bizarrely targeted our CEO with an unhinged attack. Here’s our response:
“Citadel Securities, a corporate behemoth that has been fined and censured for an incredibly wide range of offenses including issues related to naked short selling, and is world famous for screwing over everyday retail investors at the behest of other corporations, is the last company on earth that should lecture anyone on ‘integrity,’” the company stated.
Citadel was recently fined $7 million for incorrectly marking short sales as long for five years.
“Compliance with the order marking requirements of Reg SHO is a key component of regulatory efforts to curtail abusive market practices, including ‘naked’ short selling,” said Mark Cave, Associate Director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement.
“This action against Citadel Securities demonstrates that a broker-dealer’s failure to comply with the requirements of Reg SHO can have negative downstream consequences on the accuracy of the firm’s electronic records, including its electronic blue sheet reporting, depriving the Commission of important information about the markets it regulates.”
Coincidentally, FINRA denied retail investors blue sheet data for MMTLP, files which contain both trading and account holder information, and provide regulatory agencies with the ability to analyze a firm’s trading activity.
The Call for Reform
The injustices faced by retail investors in the Meta Materials case highlight the urgent need for reform in the financial markets.
Greater transparency, accountability, and oversight are essential to protect retail investors and restore confidence in the market.
Advocating for Retail Investors
Investor advocacy groups are calling for more robust regulations to protect retail investors from predatory practices.
This includes demands for clearer communication from regulatory agencies and stricter oversight of firms like Citadel and Virtu.
Why this matters
The story of Meta Materials Inc. and the actions of Citadel and Virtu serve as a stark reminder of the challenges retail investors face in a market that often favors institutional players.
The ongoing subpoena directed at Virtu Financial is just one step in a complex legal battle that underscores the need for systemic changes to ensure a fair and equitable marketplace for all participants.
As the situation evolves, it is imperative that the voices of retail investors are heard, and that measures are taken to address the injustices they face, ensuring that the integrity of the financial system is upheld.
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Also Read: Investors now urge President Trump to investigate naked short selling in formal letter
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A very good article. Thank you, MMTLP.
I appreciate you, Kenneth 🤝