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Largest Cryptocurrency Seizure in UK: Bitcoin Queen Convicted

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2 unique sources, 3 articles

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The Metropolitan Police secured a conviction in the world's largest cryptocurrency seizure, valued at over £5.5 billion ($7.3 billion). Zhimin Qian, known as the "Bitcoin Queen," pleaded guilty to a multibillion-pound fraudulent Bitcoin scheme that defrauded over 128,000 victims in China between 2014 and 2017. The scheme promised high returns on investments, raising 40 billion yuan from investors. Qian converted the proceeds into Bitcoin and fled to the UK, where she attempted to launder the funds through property purchases. The Met's Economic Crime teams, with international cooperation, seized 61,000 Bitcoin, making it the largest single crypto seizure in history. Qian, also known as Yadi Zhang, was sentenced to 11 years and eight months in prison. The investigation was launched in 2018 after a tip-off about the transfer of criminal assets, and Qian was arrested in April 2024. The scheme primarily targeted victims aged between 50 and 75 years old.

Timeline

  1. 11.11.2025 19:07 1 articles · 23h ago

    Largest single cryptocurrency seizure in history confirmed

    The UK's seizure of 61,000 Bitcoin, worth $7.3 billion, is now the largest single cryptocurrency seizure in history, surpassing the U.S. Justice Department's 2022 confiscation of over 94,000 Bitcoin related to the Bitfinex hack, valued at approximately $3.6 billion.

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  2. 30.09.2025 01:16 3 articles · 1mo ago

    Largest Cryptocurrency Seizure in UK: Bitcoin Queen Convicted

    Zhimin Qian, also known as Yadi Zhang, pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court. The investigation was launched in 2018 after a tip-off about the transfer of criminal assets. Qian was arrested in April 2024. The scheme primarily targeted victims aged between 50 and 75 years old. Jian Wen was ordered to pay back over £3.1 million ($4.16 million) in January 2025. Zhimin Qian was sentenced to 11 years and eight months in prison for laundering Bitcoin from a £5.5 billion ($7.3 billion) cryptocurrency investment scheme. Seng Hok Ling was sentenced to four years and 11 months in prison for transferring criminal property (cryptocurrency) under the Proceeds of Crime Act (2002).

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