Китай указывает на «государственный уровень» киберпреступности в обвинениях против США в краже 127 000 BTC China points to state-level cybercrime in accusations against the US for stealing 127,000 BTC

The Chinese Computer Virus Emergency Response Center (CVERC) labeled the seizure of 127,271 BTC by U.S. authorities in October as a cyberattack orchestrated by a «state-level hacking group.» This information was reported by local media.

CVERC experts stated in a published report that the confiscated assets were initially stolen from the LuBian mining pool in 2020. At that time, the stolen 127,426 BTC, worth approximately $3.5 billion, belonged to Chen Zhi, the head of the Cambodian Prince Group.

The hack went largely undetected until 2025, when the U.S. Department of Justice charged the entrepreneur with orchestrating a criminal operation worth «billions of dollars.» As a result, the agency seized the bitcoins, which had appreciated to around $15 billion.

CVERC reconstructed the timeline of events and characterized the U.S. operation as a typical «thieves’ brawl.»

Chinese experts believe that the specifics of the LuBian hack suggest the use of advanced hacking tools available at a state level. The stolen assets remained dormant for nearly four years, which deviates from the usual behavior of cybercriminals looking for profit.

Moreover, over 1,500 inquiries from the LuBian team with offers to discuss the return of the bitcoins for a reward went unanswered.

In the summer of 2024, the stolen assets were transferred to new addresses, which the analytical platform Arkham later linked to the U.S. government. Subsequently, the coins remained inactive once more.

Based on their analysis of blockchain data, CVERC experts assert that the seized funds are not associated with criminal sources, countering claims made by U.S. authorities. Approximately 17,800 BTC were obtained by LuBian through mining, around 2,300 BTC represent pool fees, and roughly 107,100 coins were transferred from exchanges and other legitimate platforms.

The assertions made by the Chinese state organization could trigger a «cold crypto war» between the U.S. and China, according to Naeem Aslam, investment director at Zaye Capital Markets.

«As blockchain data confirms transactions but not ownership rights, this confrontation may redefine the sovereignty of digital assets and the legitimacy of law enforcement,» he emphasized.

Recall that in March, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an order establishing a national reserve of confiscated cryptocurrencies.