U.S. authorities have seized $15 billion in bitcoin, tying it to an international cyberfraud ring allegedly led by Chen Zhi, a Cambodian businessman and head of Prince Group. The operation reportedly used forced labor to run scam centers in Southeast Asia, targeting victims worldwide with “pig butchering” scams — elaborate schemes where fraudsters build trust with individuals online, coax them into fake crypto investments, and then disappear with the funds.

These scams have cost victims tens of billions globally and are a growing vector for financial crime. The case highlights how digital money intersects with coercion, cross-border decep tion, and regulatory blind spots. But it also shows the increasing ability of governments to track and confiscate illicit assets on-chain.

As a result, the U.S. now holds $15 billion worth of bitcoin — whether as evidence, forfeited assets, or part of eventual redistribution, it adds to a growing pile. Intentional or not, this is one way a government begins stacking sats.

#Bitcoin #CryptoCrime #PigButchering #InvestmentFraud #BTC #FinancialSovereignty #USGov #DigitalAssets #MoneyLaundering #Cybercrime