No. Because a short seller speculates the bank is in trouble doesn't mean it gives execs carte blanche to sell their stock.

The "inside information" piece is exactly when SVB would need to do a highly risky capital raise, which SVB did (or tried to do) conveniently 2 weeks after the CEO sold millions.

Yes, the timing of the sale and raise it suspicious.

The existence of the article only hurts and not helps the insider trading accusation.