近日，以热播网剧《鱿鱼游戏》命名的加密货币“鱿鱼币”（SQUID）突然崩盘。据了解，过去一周“鱿鱼币”飙升超过230000%，一度达到2861.80美元，随后轰然崩塌，暴跌至几乎为零，数百万美元市值瞬间蒸发。
据新华社，分析人士认为，鱿鱼币崩盘是典型的“抽地毯”式骗局，即开发者推出加密货币吸引买家、突然停止交易并卷走交易所得，好似猝不及防从投资者脚下抽走地毯。
无注释原文：
Squid Game crypto token collapses in apparent scam
BBC
A digital token inspired by the popular South Korean Netflix series Squid Game has lost almost all of its value as it was revealed to be an apparent scam.
Squid, which marketed itself as a “play-to-earn cryptocurrency”, had seen its price soar in recent days – surging by thousands of per cent.
However, as the BBC reported, it was criticised for not allowing people to resell their tokens.
This kind of scam is commonly called a “rug pull” by crypto investors.
This happens when the promoter of a digital token draws in buyers, stops trading activity and makes off with the money raised from sales.
Squid’s developers have made off with an estimated $3.38m (£2.48m), according to technology website Gizmodo.
“Play-to-earn” cryptocurrency is where people buy tokens to use in online games and can earn more tokens which can later be exchanged for other cryptocurrencies or national currencies.
Last Tuesday, Squid was trading at just 1 cent. In less than a week its price had jumped to over $2,856.
Its value has now plummeted by 99.99%, said cryptocurrency data website CoinMarketCap.
Squid was billed as a token that could be used for a new online game inspired by the Netflix series – which tells the story of a group of people forced to play deadly children’s games for money. The game was due to go live this month.
However, cryptocurrency experts had warned of several tell-tale signs that it was likely to be a scam.
Most telling was that people who bought Squid tokens were unable to sell them.
Critics also highlighted that its website contained many spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. The website is no longer online and social media accounts promoting the tokens have also vanished.
“It is one of many schemes by which naïve retail investors are drawn in and exploited by malevolent crypto promoters,” Cornell University economist Eswar Prasad told the BBC.
Professor Prasad said buyers need to be aware when buying cryptocurrencies as there is almost no regulatory oversight.
“In fact, open pump and dump schemes are rampant in the crypto world, with investors often jumping in with eyes wide open, perhaps hoping that they can ride the wave and dump their holdings for a quick profit before prices collapse,” he said.
Squid was available for sale on decentralised crypto exchanges including PancakeSwap and DODO, which allows for buyers to connect directly to sellers, without a central authority.
“Nowadays new coins can be listed on decentralised exchanges on the first day they are created, without any regulation or due diligence,” said Jinnan Ouyang from Singapore-based crypto company Openmining.
– ◆ –
注：大部分中文文本为BBC官方译文，仅供参考
含注释全文：
Squid Game crypto token collapses in apparent scam
BBC
A digital token inspired by the popular South Korean Netflix series Squid Game has lost almost all of its value as it was revealed to be an apparent scam.
网络流媒体网飞（Netflix）播映的韩国电视剧《鱿鱼游戏》（Squid Game）掀起热潮，现在一款名为“鱿鱼币”的加密货币在升值数千倍之后瞬间崩盘化为乌有，证实是一场骗局。
token
表示“（某些机器中用以代替纸币的）代币，专用辅币”，英文解释为“a round metal or plastic disc that is used instead of money in some machines”
squid
squid /skwɪd/ 表示“枪乌贼；（食用的）鱿鱼”，英文解释为“a sea creature with a long body and ten arms situated around the mouth, or this animal eaten as food”
scam
表示“骗局；欺诈，诈骗”，英文解释为“A scam is an illegal trick, usually with the purpose of getting money from people or avoiding paying tax.”举个?：
They believed they were participating in an insurance scam, not a murder.
他们认为他们只是在参与保险骗局，而不是谋杀。
Squid, which marketed itself as a “play-to-earn cryptocurrency“, had seen its price soar in recent days – surging by thousands of per cent.
鱿鱼币被包装成一种“玩赚型”（play-to-earn）加密货币，在推出数天之内价值就上涨数千倍。
market
market作动词，表示“推销；促销”，英文解释为“to advertise and offer a product for sale; to present sth in a particular way and make people want to buy it”举个?：
It is marketed as a low-alcohol wine.
它作为一种低度酒投放市场。
cryptocurrency
cryptocurrency /ˈkrɪptoʊkɜːrənsi/ 表示“（公共网络的，而非政府发行的）加密电子货币（使用加密法确保付款安全支付及收取）”，实际就是加密货币，英文解释为“a digital currency produced by a public network, rather than any government, that uses cryptography to make sure payments are sent and received safely”，如：cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin 诸如比特币一类的加密电子货币。
soar
1）表示“急剧增加”，英文解释为“If the amount, value, level, or volume of something soars, it quickly increases by a great deal.”举个?：
Shares soared on the New York stock exchange.
纽约证券交易所股票暴涨。
2）表示“高飞，翱翔”，英文解释为“If something such as a bird soars into the air, it goes quickly up into the air.”举个?：
If you’re lucky, a splendid golden eagle may soar into view.
幸运的话，一只金色雄鹰会跃入视线。
3）作动词，表示“升空；升腾”，英文解释为“to rise quickly and smoothly up into the air”举个?：
The rocket soared (up) into the air.
火箭升空。
?《经济学人》（The Economist）一篇分析受疫情影响的旅游业的文章中提到：Soaring incomes in China explain part of the increase. 这一增长的部分原因是中国人收入猛增。
surge
1）作动词，表示“急剧上升；飞涨；剧增”，英文解释为“If something surges, it increases suddenly and greatly, after being steady or developing only slowly.”举个?：
The company’s profits have surged.
公司的利润激增。
2）作名词，表示“剧增”，英文解释为“A surge is a sudden large increase in something that has previously been steady, or has only increased or developed slowly.”举个?：
An unexpected surge in electrical power caused the computer to crash.
突然出现的电压剧增导致电脑死机。
?电影《雷神2：黑暗世界》（Thor: The Dark World）中的台词提到：But she will not survive the amount of energy surging within her. 但她体内涌动的能量太大 她撑不住的。
However, as the BBC reported, it was criticised for not allowing people to resell their tokens.
然而，正如BBC报道的那样，它因不允许人们转售持有的鱿鱼币而受到批评。
This kind of scam is commonly called a “rug pull” by crypto investors.
加密货币圈的投资者通常将这样的骗局称为“抽地毯”（rug pull）。
rug
rug和carpet都有地毯/毯子的意思：
?rug：a piece of thick heavy cloth smaller than a carpet, used for covering the floor or for decoration 小地毯；垫子；
?carpet：(a shaped piece of) thick material used for covering floors 地毯；地毯织物
?黑眼豆豆合唱团（Black Eyed Peas）的歌《Where Is The Love》就有这么一句歌词：就有这么一句歌词：The truth is kept secret, it’s swept under the rug 真相被隐藏，被掩盖。
?美剧《生活大爆炸》（The Big Bang Theory）第3季第19集中谢尔顿就说到：All right. Fence mended, problem swept under the rug. 太好了，栅栏已补，误会已清。（此处把问题扫到地毯下，就引申为把问题解决）
?sweep sth under the rug/carpet 字面意思就是把某事物扫到地毯下，表示“隐瞒，掩饰”，英文解释为“to hide a problem or try to keep it secret instead of dealing with it”举个?：
They are being accused of sweeping financial problems under the carpet to avoid embarrassment.
他们被指为避免尴尬而隐瞒财务问题。
This happens when the promoter of a digital token draws in buyers, stops trading activity and makes off with the money raised from sales.
抽地毯指的是推出加密货币后，推销者吸引买家，然后突然停止交易活动，并卷走交易所得。
make off
表示“（常指为逃离而）尽快离开”，英文解释为“If you make off, you leave somewhere as quickly as possible, often in order to escape.”举个?：
They broke free and made off in a stolen car.
他们挣脱后开着一辆偷来的车尽快逃离了。
Squid’s developers have made off with an estimated $3.38m (£2.48m), according to technology website Gizmodo.
根据美国科技网站Gizmodo报道，开发鱿鱼币的幕后黑手估计不法所得高达338万美元。
“Play-to-earn” cryptocurrency is where people buy tokens to use in online games and can earn more tokens which can later be exchanged for other cryptocurrencies or national currencies.
所谓“玩赚”，就是玩游戏赚钱，让人们用鱿鱼币在网络游戏上使用，买家/玩家可以赢得更多货币，用来兑换其他加密货币或国家货币。
Last Tuesday, Squid was trading at just 1 cent. In less than a week its price had jumped to over $2,856.
上周二（10月26日），鱿鱼币交易价值只有1美分，才不到一个星期的时间，鱿鱼币价值飙高到2856美元。
Its value has now plummeted by 99.99%, said cryptocurrency data website CoinMarketCap.
但根据加密货币数据网站CoinMarketCap显示，鱿鱼币的币值现在下跌了99.99%。
plummet
plummet /ˈplʌmɪt/ 表示“（数量、比率、价格）暴跌”，英文解释为“If an amount, rate, or price plummets, it decreases quickly by a large amount.”举个?：
In Tokyo share prices have plummeted for the sixth successive day.
在东京，股价已经是连续第6天暴跌了。
?瑞幸咖啡怎么了？文中也出现过，CNBC的标题Shares of China’s Luckin Coffee plummet 80% after investigation finds COO fabricated sales就用到了plummet这个词。
类似的表达「暴跌」的词有：plummet，tank，sink，plunge和slump，欢迎补充。
Squid was billed as a token that could be used for a new online game inspired by the Netflix series – which tells the story of a group of people forced to play deadly children’s games for money. The game was due to go live this month.
网飞播映的《鱿鱼游戏》描述一群债务缠身的人为了赢得巨额奖金而参与一场接着一场的生死游戏。受到《鱿鱼游戏》启发，鱿鱼币推出时，也号称能用鱿鱼币参加一个新的网络游戏，据称该网络游戏将在这个月晚些时候开始。
bill
熟词僻义，作动词，表示“把…宣传为；做广告；通过广告宣传”，英文解释为“If you bill a person or event as a particular thing, you advertise them in a way that makes people think they have particular qualities or abilities.”举个?：
The young author was billed as “the new Beckett.”
这位年轻作家被吹捧为“新贝克特”。
?《经济学人》（The Economist）一篇讲述奢侈品集团思索清空库存方法的文章中提到：Every frock sold by the likes of Gucci or Givenchy is billed as a must-have that season. 古驰或纪梵希之类的品牌把它们的每条裙子都标榜为当季必买。
go live
表示“（新系统，尤指电脑系统）开始运行；开始工作”，英文解释为“If a new system, especially a computer system, goes live, it starts to operate.”举个?：
Our new payments system will go live at the beginning of next month.
下个月初我们新的支付系统将开始运行。
However, cryptocurrency experts had warned of several tell-tale signs that it was likely to be a scam.
但是（在鱿鱼币崩盘之前）加密货币专家就已经提出几个疑点，警告投资者这可能是一场骗局。
tell-tale
表示“暴露实情的；能说明问题的”，英文解释为“showing that sth exists or has happened”如：telltale clues/marks/signs/sounds 能说明问题的种种线索/痕迹/迹象/声响。
Most telling was that people who bought Squid tokens were unable to sell them.
最能说明问题的是，购买鱿鱼币的买家没办法出售。
telling
表示“反映真实情况的；显露内心活动的；强有力的；有明显效果的；显著的”，英文解释为“showing the truth about a situation or showing what someone really thinks”如：a telling comment 发自内心的评论。
Critics also highlighted that its website contained many spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. The website is no longer online and social media accounts promoting the tokens have also vanished.
还有人发现鱿鱼币网站内容包含许多拼写和文法错误之处。现在，鱿鱼币网站已经无法访问，其社交媒体账号也凭空消失。
highlight
表示“使引起注意，强调”，英文解释为“to attract attention to or emphasize something important”举个?：
The report highlights the need for improved safety.
那份报告强调了加大安全力度的重要性。
vanish
表示“（尤指突然）消失，灭绝”，英文解释为“to disappear or stop being present or existing, especially in a sudden, surprising way”举个?：
The child vanished while on her way home from school.
那个小女孩在放学回家的路上不见了。
“It is one of many schemes by which naïve retail investors are drawn in and exploited by malevolent crypto promoters,” Cornell University economist Eswar Prasad told the BBC.
美国康奈尔大学（Cornell University）经济学教授普拉萨德（Eswar Prasad）对BBC表示，“心怀险恶的不法分子推销这种加密货币，就是要让天真的散客投资户上钩，骗他们的钱。”
exploit
1）表示“利用；剥削（…为自己谋利）”，英文解释为“to treat a person or situation as an opportunity to gain an advantage for yourself”举个?：
He exploited his father’s name to get himself a job.
他利用他父亲的名声为自己找到一份工作。
2）表示“运用；利用；发挥”，英文解释为“to use sth well in order to gain as much from it as possible”举个?：
She fully exploits the humour of her role in the play.
她在剧中把她那个角色的幽默发挥得淋漓尽致。
?电影《惊天魔盗团》（Now You See Me）中的台词提到：What I hate is people who exploit other people. 我只是讨厌那些利用别人的人。
malevolent
malevolent /məˈlɛvələnt/ 表示“恶意的；恶毒的；有害的”，英文解释为“causing or wanting to cause harm or evil”举个?：
The central character is a malevolent witch out for revenge.
主角是一个想复仇的恶毒女巫。
Professor Prasad said buyers need to be aware when buying cryptocurrencies as there is almost no regulatory oversight.
普拉萨德说，投资人在购买加密货币的时候需要提高警觉，因为这方面几乎没有有效的监管机构。
oversight
表示“监督；监察；监管”，英文解释为“responsibility for a job or activity and for making sure it is being done correctly”举个?：
Who has oversight of genetic testing?
谁对基因测试有监管责任？
“In fact, open pump and dump schemes are rampant in the crypto world, with investors often jumping in with eyes wide open, perhaps hoping that they can ride the wave and dump their holdings for a quick profit before prices collapse,” he said.
“事实上，加密货币圈存在很多先拉后砸骗局，投资人都是见钱眼开，疯抢入局以为自己也能大赚一笔，大捞一票。”
pump and dump
表示“哄抬股价，高时卖出；拉高出货；先拉后砸；炒作然后抛售；炒高再抛售”，英文解释为“’Pump and dump’ (P&D) is a form of securities fraud that involves artificially inflating the price of an owned stock through false and misleading positive statements, in order to sell the cheaply purchased stock at a higher price. Once the operators of the scheme ‘dump’ (sell) their overvalued shares, the price falls and investors lose their money.”
rampant
rampant /ˈræmpənt/ 表示“泛滥的；猖獗的”，英文解释为“existing or spreading everywhere in a way that cannot be controlled”举个?：
Unemployment is now rampant in most of Europe.
在欧洲的大部分地区，失业问题难以控制。
with your eyes open
表示“明知有问题；明知有危险；明知后果如何”，英文解释为“knowing about all the problems there could be with something you want to do”举个?：
I went into this marriage with my eyes open.
我是明知有问题却还是结了婚。
holding
表示“持有的股份”，英文解释为“If you have a holding in a company, you own shares in it.”
Squid was available for sale on decentralised crypto exchanges including PancakeSwap and DODO, which allows for buyers to connect directly to sellers, without a central authority.
鱿鱼币在PancakeSwap和DODO等去中心化交易所上市，这类去中心化交易所允许买家和卖家之间点对点进行加密货币交易。
decentralise
decentralise/decentralize表示“分散管理，分权管理；将（权力）下放”，英文解释为“to move the control of an organization or government from a single place to several smaller ones”举个?：
Modern technology has made it easy for us to decentralise.
现代技术已经使分散管理变得简单易行。
“Nowadays new coins can be listed on decentralised exchanges on the first day they are created, without any regulation or due diligence,” said Jinnan Ouyang from Singapore-based crypto company Openmining.
来自新加坡加密货币公司Openmining的欧阳锦南（Jinnan Ouyang，音译）表示，任何新货币出来的第一天就能够在去中心化交易所买卖，没有任何监管机构或尽职调查。
list
list作动词，表示“使（公司）上市；（公司）上市”（If a company is listed, or if it lists, on a stock exchange, it obtains an official quotation for its shares so that people can buy and sell them.）举个?：
Last month, thirty new companies were listed.
上个月有30家公司上市。
?listing作名词，除了表示“（表册上的）位置，项目”，也有“上市”的含义，英文解释为“a position or an item on a list”举个?：
The company is seeking a stock exchange listing (= for trading shares).
这家公司正在争取上市。
due diligence
据百度百科，Due Diligence，简称DD，中文叫尽职调查，是指企业在并购时，买方企业对目标企业进行的经营现状调查。
词典中给出的解释，1）表示“（与某公司有业务往来之前对其本身以及其财务状况进行的）必要核计，必要了解”，英文解释为“the detailed examination of a company and its financial records, done before becoming involved in a business arrangement with it”；
2）表示“（为保证自身、他人或财产安全而采取的）审慎行为”，英文解释为“action that is considered reasonable for people to be expected to take in order to keep themselves or others and their property safe”。
via LearnAndRecord
