Bitcoin News

Story: China Accuses U.S. of Orchestrating $13 Billion Bitcoin Theft

By Maheen Hernandez

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China’s accusation. According to a report released by CVERC, the U.S. allegedly orchestrated the 2020 hack of the…

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The U.S. response. In contrast, American officials maintain that the seizure was fully lawful.

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Bitcoin’s geopolitical flashpoint. The dispute marks one of the first times Bitcoin has become a direct point of contention in a…

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Broader tensions in U.S.–China relations. The accusation comes at a time of rising tension between Beijing and Washington over technology…

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A new geopolitical dispute has erupted between China and the United States — this time over cryptocurrency.

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The claim, made by China’s National Computer Virus Emergency Response Center (CVERC), has intensified tensions between the two superpowers and raised serious concerns about the…

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According to a report released by CVERC, the U.S. allegedly orchestrated the 2020 hack of the LuBian mining pool, a major China-based Bitcoin operation.

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For nearly four years, the stolen coins remained inactive before being transferred to new addresses in mid-2024. Then, in October 2025, the U.S.

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China’s cybersecurity agency, however, disputes this explanation, alleging that the U.S. government not only conducted the original hack but also later disguised it as a legal…

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The report describes the theft as involving “state-level hacking” tools and argues that the movement of the funds — quiet, delayed, and methodical — aligns more with government…

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In contrast, American officials maintain that the seizure was fully lawful. The DOJ linked the confiscated Bitcoin to Chen Zhi, the chairman of Cambodia’s Prince Group, who faces…

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According to U.S. authorities, the asset seizure was part of a broader anti-money laundering and asset forfeiture investigation.

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However, China’s CVERC has challenged this account, calling it “an internal showdown among thieves.

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The dispute marks one of the first times Bitcoin has become a direct point of contention in a major geopolitical standoff. With 127,000 BTC—roughly 0.

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At Bitcoin’s peak price in October 2025 of around $126,000, the seized coins would have been worth more than $16 billion. As of mid-November, their value sits closer to $13.

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