The Chinese prosecution seeks to confiscate over 61,800 bitcoins in the case of Qian Zhimin

According to CoinDesk citing The Paper, Chinese prosecutors are seeking to confiscate over 61,800 bitcoins and other assets related to a fraud case involving more than 40 billion yuan. The case revolves around Qian Zhimin, the actual controller of Tianjin Lantian Ge Rui Electronic Technology. Prosecutors stated that from 2014 to 2017, the company sold unlicensed financial products in China, raising over 40.378 billion yuan from more than 102,000 investors, resulting in nearly 20 billion yuan in losses for investors.

The related funds were reportedly used to repay early investors, operate fraudulent investment projects, and purchase bitcoins, real estate, cars, and jewelry, rather than being invested in legitimate businesses. Qian Zhimin fled China in 2017 and settled in the UK. UK authorities have seized his assets, including over 61,800 bitcoins, as well as Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin Gold, Bitcoin SV, Ripple, Dogecoin, cash, jewelry, and investment holdings.

On October 13, the Tianjin Second Intermediate People's Court stated that it has accepted the prosecutors' application to confiscate the aforementioned assets as illegal gains and has initiated a six-month announcement period for victims and stakeholders to participate in the litigation; those who do not participate can still apply for compensation regarding the recovery of assets. Previously, the UK High Court ruled that for the over 61,000 bitcoins seized in the UK, victims claimed that Chinese law should apply rather than UK law. This ruling requires determining whether victims have property rights under Chinese law, and a hearing will be held subsequently, with some victim lawyers seeking to appeal.