Ah yes, the classic “they booked an imaginary asset” take, always a crowd favorite. Except, no, that’s not what happened.
What actually happened is Accounting 101: if there’s an asset tied to a future obligation, you book the asset and the liability. That’s literally how balance sheets work. The net effect is zero by design, it’s called transparency, not trickery.
And the “asset may not exist” line? Cute. If it didn’t exist, it wouldn’t be booked at all, that’s a great way to get a fast-pass to an SEC inquiry. Just because you don’t understand the structure doesn’t mean it’s fake.
So yeah, no smoke and mirrors here, just basic accounting mechanics that show both sides of the deal. Sorry it’s not the conspiracy you were hoping for.