UK Police Seize 60,000 Bitcoin as Chinese Scammer Gets 11-Year Sentence

A Chinese woman at the center of one of the largest investment scams in Asia has been sentenced in the United Kingdom to eleven years and eight months in prison for laundering money tied to the scheme.

Good to Know

• UK police seized more than 60,000 Bitcoin — now worth around £4.8 billion — in the country’s biggest crypto seizure.
• The fraud involved over 128,000 victims and roughly £600 million in total losses.
• The Crown Prosecution Service is moving to confiscate the seized digital assets.

Zhimin Qian, 47, also known as Yadi Zhang, ran the operation between 2014 and 2017, defrauding more than 128,000 investors in China through a fake investment network. She moved at least £20.2 million of the stolen funds into Bitcoin before fleeing to the UK, where she lived under a false identity.

Massive Bitcoin Haul and International Operation

Authorities described the case as one of the most sophisticated money laundering operations ever uncovered in Britain. When police arrested Qian in April 2024, they recovered more than 60,000 Bitcoin from her digital wallets — a record-breaking seizure that has since appreciated to about £4.8 billion in value.

Qian admitted to laundering criminal proceeds and was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court. Investigators said she used part of the funds to attempt several luxury property purchases across London, prompting law enforcement to launch a surveillance operation that ultimately led to her arrest.

Her co-conspirator, Senghok Ling, a 47-year-old Malaysian national, was sentenced to four years and eleven months for helping Qian transfer approximately £2.5 million in cryptocurrency. Ling was also found guilty of possessing criminal property related to the scheme.

Seizure and Confiscation of Assets

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed it is now pursuing criminal and civil proceedings to confiscate the seized digital assets. Legal experts note that such a confiscation effort could set a new precedent in the UK for handling large-scale cryptocurrency recoveries linked to international fraud.

The investigation revealed that Qian used complex offshore networks and false business fronts to disguise the flow of stolen funds. Detectives said her movements across Europe and attempts to enter the luxury real estate market eventually exposed her location to financial crime units.

The sentencing marks a significant moment for UK authorities in the fight against large-scale crypto-related fraud, particularly as international cooperation between British and Chinese law enforcement continues to expand.

FAQ

Who is Zhimin Qian?

A Chinese national who ran a £600 million investment scam from 2014 to 2017 and laundered proceeds through Bitcoin.

How much cryptocurrency was seized?

Police recovered more than 60,000 Bitcoin, valued at approximately £4.8 billion — the largest crypto seizure in UK history.

What sentence did she receive?

Qian was sentenced to eleven years and eight months for money laundering.

What happens to the seized Bitcoin?

The Crown Prosecution Service is pursuing asset confiscation proceedings to recover the funds through both criminal and civil channels.