电诈“太子”的百亿比特币，怎么就被美国“抄家”了？

Core Insights - The U.S. Department of Justice announced the seizure of approximately 127,000 bitcoins from Chinese national Chen Zhi, valued at around $15 billion, marking a significant action against foreign assets [1][4]. Group 1: Background of Chen Zhi - Chen Zhi, born in 1987 in Fujian, China, initially made his fortune through private server gaming and later transitioned to telecom fraud, collaborating with Taiwanese scam groups [4][6]. - He established a powerful presence in Cambodia, leveraging connections with local authorities, particularly with Prime Minister Hun Sen, and created a conglomerate known as the Prince Group, which spans various industries including real estate and finance [6][9]. Group 2: Bitcoin and Seizure Details - A substantial portion of the seized bitcoins was mined by Chen's company, LuBian Mining, and the assets had been transferred to U.S. government-controlled wallets as early as June-July 2024 [9][10]. - The seizure raises questions about the security of cryptocurrencies, as the bitcoins were stored in a cold wallet, suggesting potential vulnerabilities in the encryption methods used or human factors leading to the compromise of private keys [10][11]. Group 3: Implications for the Cryptocurrency Industry - The incident has led to a crisis of faith among cryptocurrency advocates, highlighting the fragility of the perceived anonymity and decentralization of digital currencies when faced with state intervention [13][17]. - Historical precedents, such as the seizure of bitcoins from other individuals and entities, illustrate the reality that technological safeguards may not protect against governmental authority [13][17]. - The narrative surrounding cryptocurrencies as a means of escaping centralized control is challenged, as they become tools in geopolitical strategies, with the U.S. considering the inclusion of seized bitcoins into national reserves [13][17].