As an ex professional trader for a major I can tell you they are...

As an ex professional trader for a major I can tell you they are manipulating the price, but not necessarily illegally. They have deep pockets and the sim is to accumulate. They are buying just as many as they are selling and will one day take their foot off the break. My point above about it not necessarily being illegal is that the price is based on demand and supply. If they are selling at lower prices you and I have the option to buy at that price. If we don’t they push it further down. Eventually a base is formed where they accumulate. They understand the psychological impact on the retail investors and play on that. Ditto when ramping, they are trying to get out at the best price, creating FOMO as retail jump in while they offload more than they buy.
I am not a certified financial advisor and none of this is advice. Games are being played every day in all stocks.