Core Insights - The article discusses the rise and fall of Chen Zhi, who transformed from a small-town internet café manager in China to the head of the Prince Group in Cambodia, which was involved in real estate, finance, and gambling, but is now under investigation by multiple law enforcement agencies [2][3][4]. Group 1: Background and Rise - Chen Zhi started his career in a small fishing village in Fujian, China, and quickly recognized the profit potential in private server gaming, leading to his first financial success [5]. - After moving to Cambodia in 2009, he capitalized on the lack of regulatory oversight in the gambling and internet sectors, establishing cross-border fraud teams [5][6]. - In 2015, he founded the Prince Group, which appeared to engage in legitimate business but primarily profited from scams and online gambling [5][6]. Group 2: Operations and Wealth Accumulation - At its peak, the Prince Group had a workforce of 5,000 to 10,000 employees and registered over 700,000 fraudulent accounts [6]. - Chen Zhi's wealth grew rapidly, with daily cash flows reaching $30 million, and he invested heavily in luxury real estate in Singapore, acquiring properties worth approximately $40 million SGD [11]. - He also controlled about 6% of global Bitcoin mining capacity through his company LuBianMining, with $15 billion worth of Bitcoin seized by U.S. authorities [12][19]. Group 3: Legal Challenges and Investigations - In October 2025, U.S. authorities seized 127,000 Bitcoins from Chen Zhi and charged him with conspiracy to commit telecom fraud and money laundering, each carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years [19]. - The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Chen Zhi and 146 associated individuals, while the UK froze his real estate assets [19][20]. - Chinese law enforcement had been investigating the Prince Group since 2020, revealing extensive fraud operations with over 5 billion RMB involved [20]. Group 4: Industry Implications - The case highlights significant challenges in cryptocurrency regulation, as the anonymity of Bitcoin allows for nearly untraceable cross-border transactions [23]. - It also underscores the complexities of international law enforcement collaboration, particularly in asset recovery for victims [24]. - The investigation has prompted a reevaluation of family office regulations in Singapore, which had previously attracted significant foreign investment but also facilitated money laundering [17][25].
电诈帝国坍塌:陈志的千亿黑金谜局与全球围猎
Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-10-28 03:55