Zhimin Qian, 47, tricked over 128,000 victims in China and converted their money into Bitcoin.
UK authorities convicted Qian for leading a Bitcoin scam linked to a £5.5 billion seizure.
Also called Yadi Zhang, Qian admitted at Southwark Crown Court that she illegally acquired and held cryptocurrency.
Escape and Money Laundering Attempt
Police said her guilty plea followed a seven-year investigation into international money laundering.
From 2014 to 2017, Qian orchestrated a large-scale fraud, stealing funds from thousands of victims and storing them in Bitcoin.
She fled China with fake documents and entered the UK, where she tried to launder funds through property purchases in 2018.
The Metropolitan Police seized 61,000 Bitcoins from Qian, marking one of the largest cryptocurrency recoveries worldwide.
Legal Consequences and Warnings
Will Lyne, head of economic and cybercrime command, called this case one of the largest money laundering investigations in UK history.
Authorities previously jailed Jian Wen, 43, for over six years for her involvement in Qian’s Bitcoin fraud.
Officials will sentence Qian at a future date.
Robin Weyell, deputy chief crown prosecutor, said criminals increasingly use cryptocurrencies to hide and move illicit assets.
She confirmed the CPS will block fraudsters from reclaiming stolen assets through civil or criminal proceedings.
