Yeliz Akmaca 
Zhimin Qian has been sentenced in the UK’s largest cryptocurrency money laundering case. Authorities seized more than 61,000 Bitcoin in an investigation involving around 195,000 BTC. However, the status of 120,000 BTC remains unclear. This operation marks a major milestone in the UK’s fight against crypto-related crimes.
Authorities are targeting systemic loopholes in large-scale money laundering cases. Bitcoin liquidity in the market has decreased, but this does not create systemic risks. Analysts note that undisclosed Bitcoin could directly influence future regulatory measures.
The Zhimin Qian Case
47-year-old Chinese national Zhimin Qian received an 11-year and 8-month prison sentence in the UK’s largest cryptocurrency money laundering trial. Qian admitted acquiring criminal proceeds in Bitcoin and other crypto assets. Between 2014 and 2017, he raised roughly $5.6 billion from more than 128,000 investors through his Chinese company, Lantian Gerui.
Authorities stated that most of the funds were embezzled and transferred through complex crypto transactions, leading to one of the largest Bitcoin seizures in UK history, totaling approximately 61,000 BTC.
In 2017, Qian fled China, traveled across Southeast Asia, and entered the UK using a fake identity and a St. Kitts & Nevis passport. In London, he rented luxury properties and tried to convert crypto funds into tangible assets such as real estate. Authorities seized Bitcoin stored in digital wallets and safety deposit boxes in York in April 2024.
Judge Sally-Ann Hales highlighted that Qian orchestrated the crime from start to finish, calling it “unprecedented in scale.” His accomplices also received prison sentences. The case emphasizes the complexity of large-scale crypto crimes and international money laundering operations.
Market and Regulatory Impact
According to CoinMarketCap, Bitcoin holds a 58.51% market dominance and traded at $90,904.55 with a -32.46% 24-hour volume change. Over the last 90 days, its price fell by 16.22%.
The case underscores the need for transparency in the cryptocurrency market. Authorities plan to enhance international cooperation to prevent similar incidents. Coincu analysis suggests that such major seizures could have long-term effects on Bitcoin’s price and adoption.
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