Core Insights - Yao Qian, a former architect of China's digital yuan, accepted over $8 million in crypto bribes while in senior regulatory positions, highlighting corruption within the blockchain technology framework he helped develop [1][2] Group 1: Corruption Scheme Details - The corruption scheme was detailed in a CCTV documentary, revealing that investigators traced 2,000 Ethereum, valued at 60 million yuan at peak prices, from a businessman to Yao's personal wallet in 2018 [2] - Yao utilized multiple shell accounts and blockchain addresses to conceal bribes totaling at least 22 million yuan ($3.1 million) in fiat currency, alongside significant cryptocurrency holdings [3] - Investigators found three hardware wallets in Yao's office, which contained millions of yuan in cryptocurrency, contradicting his belief that virtual currencies provided anonymity [3][4] Group 2: Investigation Findings - The investigation uncovered that Yao purchased a villa in Beijing worth over 20 million yuan using funds traced back to crypto exchanges, including a 10 million yuan payment converted from digital assets [5] - Authorities traced large transfers through multiple layers of shell accounts controlled by relatives and intermediaries, establishing a clear link between businessman Wang and Yao's corrupt dealings [6][7] - Cross-referencing Yao's legal bank accounts with government databases revealed accounts opened under other identities that he secretly controlled, further complicating the investigation [6]