Zhimin Qian, 47, tricked more than 128,000 people in China before trying to launder cryptocurrency through UK property.
UK authorities convicted Qian of leading a Bitcoin scam linked to a seizure worth over £5.5 billion.
Also called Yadi Zhang, Qian admitted at Southwark Crown Court to illegally obtaining and holding cryptocurrency.
Global Investigation and Escape
The Metropolitan Police said a seven-year international probe led to her guilty plea.
From 2014 to 2017, Qian executed a large-scale fraud, converting victims’ money into Bitcoin.
She fled China with fake documents and entered the UK to hide her illegal gains by buying property in 2018.
Police recovered 61,000 Bitcoins from Qian, marking one of the largest seizures in UK history.
Legal Consequences and Warnings
Will Lyne, head of economic and cybercrime command, called the case one of the largest global cryptocurrency crimes.
Authorities previously jailed 43-year-old Jian Wen for six years and eight months for assisting Qian in the fraud.
Courts will sentence Qian at a later date.
Robin Weyell of the Crown Prosecution Service warned criminals increasingly use cryptocurrency to conceal and move wealth.
She confirmed the CPS will secure stolen assets through confiscation and civil actions to keep them from fraudsters.
