U.S. Charges 10 Foreign Nationals in Crypto Wash Trading Scheme

• Ten foreign executives charged over crypto wash trading schemes, inflating volumes and prices globally.
• FBI undercover operation created tokens to expose coordinated market manipulation patterns.
• Arrests, extraditions, and guilty pleas follow with up to 20 years in prison per defendant.

U.S. authorities have charged ten foreign nationals tied to four cryptocurrency financial services firms in connection with schemes to manipulate digital asset markets. The charges, announced following a multi-agency investigation, allege that the defendants engaged in “wash trading” to inflate both trading volume and token prices, creating misleading market activity that prompted investor participation at artificially elevated levels.

The operation, led by federal prosecutors in California, resulted in multiple arrests, extraditions, guilty pleas, and the seizure of digital assets linked to the alleged misconduct.

Federal Operation Targets Crypto Market Manipulation

According to federal grand jury indictments filed in California, employees and executives from Gotbit, Vortex, Antier, and Contrarian were involved in orchestrating fraudulent trading activity. Prosecutors allege that the individuals coordinated trades in which they acted as both buyers and sellers, creating the appearance of organic demand in cryptocurrency markets.

The investigation was conducted through an undercover operation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). As part of the probe, authorities created several cryptocurrency tokens to monitor and document suspected wash trading practices. The charges state that the schemes followed a pattern, with participants boosting trading metrics before selling holdings at inflated prices to investors.

Arrests, Guilty Pleas, and Extraditions

Three defendants, including two chief executive officers, were arrested in Singapore and sent to the United States, where they appeared in federal court in Oakland. Additional defendants were previously detained at U.S. airports, including John F. Kennedy International Airport and San Francisco International Airport.

Court filings show that some individuals have already entered guilty pleas. Taiwanese national Antoine Tsao, affiliated with Gotbit, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and was sentenced in California in June 2025. Serbian national Nemanja Popov also pleaded guilty and was sentenced in February 2026. Two additional defendants linked to separate indictments have also been convicted and sentenced.

Other individuals, including executives associated with Antier, Vortex, and Contrarian, remain in federal custody following their extradition.

Charges and Legal Exposure

The defendants face charges including wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud under U.S. federal law. Prosecutors allege that the schemes were designed to mislead investors by presenting manipulated trading activity as legitimate market demand.

If convicted, each defendant could face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 per violation. Authorities pointed out that all individuals charged are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Related: South Korea Police Probe Crypto-Funded Revenge-for-Hire Network