A Chinese woman, Zhimin Qian—also known as Yadi Zhang—has pleaded guilty in a London court to laundering and possessing criminal proceeds tied to one of the largest cryptocurrency busts in history. Authorities seized nearly 61,000 Bitcoin, now worth about £5.5 billion ($7.4 billion), marking a milestone in global crypto crime enforcement .
Massive Fraud and Bitcoin Stash
Investigators traced Qian’s operation back to China, where between 2014 and 2017 she allegedly defrauded around 128,000 victims through bogus investment schemes. She then funneled the money into Bitcoin to conceal the origins of the funds .
In 2018, London’s Metropolitan Police raided a property in Hampstead and uncovered digital wallets stored in electronic devices and a safety deposit box. Those wallets held 61,000 BTC—a haul that has grown in value to billions at current market prices .
Laundering Network and Global Asset Seizures
On September 29, 2025, Qian admitted to two charges at Southwark Crown Court: possessing criminal property and transferring criminal property. Her sentencing will take place at a later date .
Her laundering scheme extended far beyond Bitcoin wallets. Authorities revealed she bought property in the UK and worked with accomplices to obscure her activities. One associate, Jian Wen, a former restaurant worker, was convicted in 2024 and sentenced to six years and eight months for helping launder significant Bitcoin holdings .
Investigators also seized assets abroad, including two properties in Dubai, while initiating civil recovery proceedings to ensure criminals could not reclaim the seized wealth .
Global Implications for Crypto Enforcement
Authorities describe the case as a turning point for law enforcement’s ability to track, seize, and recover digital assets across borders. The unprecedented size of the seizure and the complexity of tracing Bitcoin transactions tested investigative limits but also showcased how coordinated global efforts can dismantle sophisticated crypto-laundering operations .
Qian’s conviction underscores a growing message: even large-scale international crypto fraud is not beyond reach. Regulators and prosecutors worldwide are tightening oversight of digital assets, and this trial may influence future policy on asset forfeiture and cross-border cooperation. All eyes now turn to Qian’s sentencing and whether defrauded investors will eventually recover any of the seized Bitcoin.
