This was caused by the witnesses never cleaning up the ninja-mining mess.

The STEEM was left with Ned based on a detente reached with the community. A better solution should have been reached.

So, now the STEEM Ned was left with (that had strings attached) was sold, without those strings, to Mr. Tron.

Then things happened, and now, Mr. Tron is a dictator.
and all that is left is finding out if he is a benevolent dictator.