Zhimin Qian, a Chinese national widely referred to as the “Crypto Queen,” is being sentenced in Britain after admitting offenses linked to what authorities are calling the largest cryptocurrency seizure in history.
According to court documents, Qian – also known as the Chinese “Goddess of wealth” – pleaded guilty on September 29, 2025 to acquiring and possessing criminal property in the form of Bitcoin. Reports have indicated that police seized more than 61,000 BTC during a 2018 raid, an amount worth at least $6.5 billion at current market rates.
Major seizures lead to legal action
Investigators say the loot came from an investment program carried out in China between 2014 and 2017. Prosecutors link the activity to a company called Tianjin Lantian Gerui Electronic Technology Co Ltd, which allegedly promised high returns to thousands of people.
Reports estimates the number of victims at more than 128,000. That figure has raised questions about how the recovered funds could be distributed among so many claimants.
China’s “Goddess of Wealth” Faces Jail in Britain Over $6 Billion Bitcoin Scamhttps://t.co/LdnTWVl3xz pic.twitter.com/M7b329kEkB
— NDTV WORLD (@NDTVWORLD) November 10, 2025
The arrest and the trail of evidence
According to police statements, Qian left China around 2017 and later used fake travel documents, including a St Kitts & Nevis passport, to live in Britain. In 2018, officers searched a property in Hampstead and found wallets and devices that allowed them to trace crypto holdings.
Documents shown in court link transfers and accounts to the scheme that defrauded investors. The items seized in that operation are central to the Crown’s case and plans for compensation for victims.
Compensation and cross-border challenges
Reports have outlined the legal and practical hurdles that lie ahead. The Bitcoin seized in 2018 has since skyrocketed in value, complicating decisions about how to return money to the injured party.
BTCUSD trading at $104,949 on the 24-hour chart: TradingView
Lawyers say it could take years for cross-border claims between British authorities and Chinese victims to be resolved. Based on reports, one concern is conflicting claims about who is entitled to the assets and whether victims will receive the current market value of the assets. Bitcoin or the value at the time of seizure.
Sentencing timeline and possible sentences
According to judicial sources, Qian could face this 14 years behind bars among the charges she admitted. The sentencing was expected to take place shortly after the guilty verdict, although the exact dates have not been publicly confirmed by the court in all media.
Judges will consider the extent of the loss, the number of victims and the role Qian played in moving or hiding the money when determining the sentence.
Investigations and next steps
British authorities, including the Metropolitan Police and the Crown Prosecution Service, are coordinating efforts to secure the remaining assets and set up processes for victims to claim money.
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