The Zhimin Qian trial, starting 29 September in London, tests UK law on crypto-related crime: prosecutors allege unlawful possession and transfer of Bitcoin now worth about $7 billion and seek civil recovery for nearly 130,000 Chinese investors.
Allegation: Zhimin Qian moved proceeds into Bitcoin worth ~ $7 billion.
UK prosecutors charge unlawful possession/transfer of crypto and handling of criminal property, not fraud.
British authorities seized ~61,000 BTC (2018–2021); civil recovery may reach the UK Supreme Court.
Qian trial: London trial over $7 billion Bitcoin theft begins Sept 29; read how UK law may shape crypto restitution and civil recovery. Learn next steps.
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What is the Zhimin Qian trial and why does it matter?
The Zhimin Qian trial is a criminal proceeding in London alleging the unlawful possession and transfer of Bitcoin now valued at roughly $7 billion. The case matters because it tests UK prosecutorial strategies and civil recovery mechanisms for large-scale, cross-border crypto fraud affecting nearly 130,000 investors.
How did investigators trace the $7 billion in Bitcoin?
British authorities say Qian laundered proceeds from a Ponzi-style fundraising scheme run by Tianjin Lantian Gerui Electronic Technology Company into Bitcoin between 2014 and 2017. Law enforcement seized approximately 61,000 BTC across 2018–2021 during anti-money laundering operations related to co-conspirator Jian Wen.
| Item | Amount / Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated Bitcoin value | $7 billion (approx.) | Valuation based on current market price |
| BTC seized by UK (2018–2021) | ~61,000 BTC | Recovered during investigations into Jian Wen |
| Victims | ~129,000 investors | Allegedly targeted in China (2014–2017) |
Why did UK prosecutors charge possession and criminal property instead of fraud?
UK authorities focused on charges of unlawful possession and transfer of cryptocurrency and acquisition/use of criminal property because the alleged fraud occurred in China and had limited direct links to England and Wales. Prosecutors can therefore pursue assets under established English law without proving the underlying foreign fraud in full.
What legal challenges could affect conviction or civil recovery?
Collecting primary evidence from China—victim statements, corporate records and financial trails—presents hurdles for the prosecution. Legal experts note that while the Anwar principles allow courts to infer criminal origins of assets, proving proprietary claims in civil recovery for a vast pool of overseas victims will be complex.
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Victims will need to demonstrate a proprietary claim to recovered assets in civil proceedings. Given the scale, legal advisers anticipate prolonged litigation, and it is likely the matter could progress to the UK Supreme Court if contested.
Yuhua Yang, partner at Thornhill Legal, said the cross-border evidence gap makes prosecution an “uphill struggle” for UK authorities. Ashley Fairbrother, Partner at EMM Legal, noted the law can address asset recovery even if the precise foreign fraud cannot be fully proved, and highlighted the unprecedented scale of the funds involved.
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