全球最大电诈集团被端！美国没收近13万枚比特币，价值1070亿元！

Core Insights - The article discusses the transformation of a scam group into a powerful transnational criminal network, highlighting the dangers of combining technology, corruption, and state power [1][3]. Group 1: The Criminal Network - The U.S. Department of Justice dismantled a significant digital empire, seizing 127,000 bitcoins valued at approximately $15 billion, which represents nearly 1/156 of the global bitcoin supply [3]. - The criminal organization, known as the "Prince Group," was founded by Chen Zhi, who integrated political infiltration, technological fraud, and violent coercion into a formidable cross-border crime network [3][9]. Group 2: Chen Zhi's Ambitions - Chen Zhi, a 37-year-old businessman, sought to expand his operations in Cambodia after obtaining dual citizenship in Cambodia and the UK [5]. - He strategically aligned himself with political elites, notably forming a partnership with the son of Cambodia's then-Minister of Interior, which facilitated his rapid rise within the political landscape [8][9]. Group 3: Political Protection and Expansion - With political backing, Chen Zhi was appointed as an advisor to the Ministry of Interior and later to Prime Minister Hun Sen, which provided a protective shield for his operations [9]. - The Prince Group claimed to operate in 30 countries, engaging in various sectors while concealing its core business of notorious "pig-butchering" scams [9][12]. Group 4: Scalable Operations - The group utilized "phone farms" to scale their fraudulent activities, controlling over 76,000 social media accounts through 1,250 mobile devices [12]. - Their operations spanned globally, with technical servers in Singapore and money laundering through casinos in Cambodia, ultimately funneling funds into digital wallets in Dubai [14]. Group 5: Cryptocurrency as a Tool - The COVID-19 pandemic prompted the group to shift focus to online operations, with bitcoin becoming a crucial tool for cross-border money laundering and amplifying scam profits [18]. - Chen Zhi sold 24,000 bitcoins for $2.7 billion, showcasing the immense value of the cryptocurrency to the group's operations [18]. Group 6: The Downfall - The perceived anonymity of bitcoin became a vulnerability, as U.S. and UK law enforcement successfully tracked the cryptocurrency and infiltrated the group, leading to the seizure of assets [19][20]. - The coordinated crackdown resulted in the freezing of Chen Zhi's properties in London worth £130 million and the confiscation of $15 billion in bitcoin, marking a significant blow to the Prince Group [22]. Group 7: Implications for Global Crime - The collapse of the Prince Group serves as a warning about the dangers of unchecked technology and capital when combined with corrupt power [22]. - The case illustrates the increasing effectiveness of global financial regulation and law enforcement in combating cryptocurrency-related crimes [22].