Seven Years, £5.5 Billion, 128,000 Victims – The Case of Yadi Zhang

Daily Security Review

In a historic case that has captured global attention, UK authorities have secured a conviction against Zhimin Qian (also known as Yadi Zhang), the Chinese national at the center of one of the largest financial crime investigations of the decade. Following a seven-year probe by the Metropolitan Police, investigators uncovered an elaborate fraud and laundering scheme that culminated in the seizure of 61,000 Bitcoin—valued at over £5.5 billion—the largest cryptocurrency seizure in history.

Between 2014 and 2017, Qian defrauded more than 128,000 victims in China through a fraudulent investment scheme. To obscure the origins of the stolen wealth, she converted the proceeds into Bitcoin and later attempted to launder the funds after relocating to the UK. Working with accomplices, including Jian Wen—who was separately convicted—Qian sought to channel the illicit Bitcoin into real-world assets, from luxury purchases to property investments.

What followed was one of the most complex and resource-intensive economic crime investigations ever conducted. The Met’s Economic Crime Command, in partnership with Chinese authorities, meticulously pieced together evidence that linked the seized Bitcoin to the fraud. Their success not only delivered a rare conviction in such a massive crypto-laundering case but also exposed the growing geopolitical challenges of asset recovery. With China and the UK now disputing the ownership of the seized billions, the case highlights both the triumphs and tensions of cross-border law enforcement in the digital era.

In this episode, we unpack the anatomy of Qian’s fraud network, the meticulous police work that cracked the case, and the strategic implications for the future of financial crime enforcement. This landmark prosecution is more than a victory for justice—it’s a blueprint for how law enforcement can adapt to the realities of globalized digital finance.

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