Vested Shorts || Aug 09, 2026

:rotating_light: Leverage just had a brutal week

Borrowed money amplified the upside. Then it amplified the pain.

:boom: $16B AI portfolio sold overnight

A hedge fund that was up 439% in H1 was forced to sell after leverage and margin calls hit.

:chart_with_downwards_trend: Korea got caught in the same trap

More than 1.2M accounts faced margin calls as the KOSPI plunged around 40% from its peak.

:bank: Then SoftBank joined the story

It borrowed $10B against its OpenAI shares to fund its next investment.

:warning: The bigger warning

US margin debt hit $1.5T, up 49% YoY , even as markets stayed near record highs.

When markets rise, leverage looks smart.

When they fall, someone else can decide when you sell.

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