There’s yet more drama with the EOS Blockchain amid new accusations that Chinese cryptocurrency exchanges have been colluding to take control of the platform.

The EOS blockchain is an “operating system” platform that can be compared to a cloud computing service such as Amazon Web Services Inc.’s. Parent company Block.One raised a record $4 billion in an initial coin offering in May before launching in June.

The first drama with EOS struck in late June when an arbitration decision forced blockchain participants not to process transactions from 27 different accounts that had been compromised by hackers. Participants claimed that the ruling went against the ethos of a decentralized blockchain and the process used to make the order was “haphazard and unprofessional.”

In late September, a document started doing the rounds of Chinese social media that purportedly shows “collusion, mutual voting, and pay-offs” are commonplace among EOS block producers.

TNW reported that the document allegedly shows that Singapore-based cryptocurrency exchange Huobi along “with other powerful block producers” are “mutually voting for each other in order to retain status and secure passive income.” Huobi is also alleged to have received EOS cryptocurrency directly in exchange for its votes.

Huobi has denied the allegations, while Block.one Chief Executive Officer Brendan Blumer took to Medium, saying only that “we are aware of some unverified claims regarding irregular block producer voting, and the subsequent denials of those claims” before discussing voting procedures.

Confusing things further, the EOS Alliance, the body tasked with managing the EOS Blockchain, didn’t deny the allegation, instead assuring members that if manipulation existed, it “may not directly or immediately impact the public perception and business reputation of the EOS mainnet. EOS Alliance acknowledges and respects the concerns of the EOS community that vote buying, a particularly grievous form of social engineering, is spotlighted and dealt with, if it exists, but without brand-damaging drama, witch hunts, or mob rule.”

True or not, the claims are not a good look for EOS. If true, it may turn some investors and participants off. But given its staggering size already — the EOS token used on the platform has a $5.1 billion market cap — at best it might be a small speed bump in the road or perhaps a better comparison, an Elon Musk SEC settlement payment.

Image: Block.one