Core Points - Qian Zhimin, a 47-year-old woman from Rugao, Jiangsu, was sentenced to 11 years and 8 months in prison for orchestrating the largest cryptocurrency money laundering case in UK history, involving £5.5 billion (over 514 billion RMB) [1][7][21] Group 1: Case Overview - The case is recognized as the largest cryptocurrency money laundering operation in the UK, with a total amount involved exceeding £5.5 billion [7][21] - Qian was found guilty of defrauding 128,000 investors through a Ponzi scheme, raising over 40 billion RMB [8][20] - The UK police seized seven cryptocurrency wallets, setting a global record for asset confiscation [7] Group 2: Criminal Activities - Qian was the mastermind behind the laundering of 60,000 bitcoins, which were part of stolen investment funds [5][19] - She fled to the UK in 2017 with 194,951 bitcoins, including over 70,000 on her laptop [8][19] - The operation involved elaborate planning and assistance from multiple accomplices, including hiring staff to facilitate her luxurious lifestyle [8][15] Group 3: Legal Proceedings - The trial began on September 29, 2023, and Qian pleaded guilty, which shortened the expected 12-week trial [12][10] - The judge highlighted her greed and the unprecedented scale of the money laundering operation during sentencing [5][12] - Qian received a 10% reduction in her sentence for her guilty plea, resulting in a final sentence of 11 years and 8 months [12][21] Group 4: Impact on Victims - The fraudulent activities led to significant financial losses for thousands of investors, including many retirees [20][21] - Efforts are ongoing to recover lost funds for the victims, with Chinese authorities collaborating with UK law enforcement [19][21]

伦敦警察厅公开表示，已追回6.1万枚比特币。根据近期比特币价格从12.23万美元/枚震荡下跌至11.20万 美元/枚计算，这些比特币价格仍高达68.32亿美元（依照人民币当前汇率折合约487亿元）。 引发国内关注的是，该案主犯钱志敏也是早年间国内一起非法吸收公众存款案的主要犯罪嫌疑人。《中 国经营报》记者通过梳理裁判文书，事情的脉络也逐渐浮出水面。 近期，英国最大规模比特币洗钱案主犯钱志敏（化名：Yadi Zhang）在伦敦承认犯有非法获取和持有加 密货币罪，引发舆论关注。 北京大成（上海）律师事务所律师、浙大城市学院法学院兼职研究员施子涵向记者表示：虽然当前虚拟 货币持有行为未被禁止，但因虚拟货币被不法分子用于非法集资、诈骗、传销、洗钱等违法犯罪活动， 故我国对与虚拟货币相关的交易、融资、发行活动采取严格的监管措施，投资者应注意防范虚拟货币投 资骗局。 主犯涉及国内300亿元非吸案 公开信息显示，2014年3月，钱志敏以3000万元注册资金在天津成立了蓝天格锐电子科技公司（以下简 称"蓝天格锐"）。 她将蓝天格锐分为京津冀、东北、华东、华南、华中、西北、西南七个大区，销售所谓理财产品。2014 —2017年 ...

Core Viewpoint - The case of Tianjin Lantian Ge Rui, involving illegal fundraising and money laundering through Bitcoin, has significant implications for cross-border legal cooperation and asset recovery efforts between China and the UK [1][15][16]. Group 1: Case Overview - The main defendant, Qian Zhimin, is set to appear in court in London, with the trial expected to last 12 weeks and conclude before Christmas [1]. - The case involves 61,000 Bitcoins, valued at approximately 48 billion RMB based on market prices as of September 28 [1]. - The illegal fundraising scheme, which promised annual returns of 100% to 300%, affected nearly 130,000 victims across China, with total funds exceeding 43 billion RMB [2][4]. Group 2: Company Operations - Lantian Ge Rui, established in 2014, operated under the guise of a technology company, promoting high-return investment products and utilizing a multi-level marketing approach [9][10]. - The company claimed to have significant operations in Bitcoin mining, but evidence suggests that the mining equipment was outdated and not operational [14]. Group 3: Legal Proceedings and Asset Recovery - Following the collapse of the investment scheme in 2017, Qian Zhimin fled to the UK, where she was later arrested, and a significant amount of Bitcoin was seized by UK authorities [5][7]. - The UK authorities have initiated civil recovery proceedings for the seized Bitcoins, with potential implications for the victims in China seeking restitution [15][16]. - Chinese investors have begun legal actions in the UK to recover their losses, highlighting the complexities of cross-border asset recovery [15][16][17].