Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Michael Kunzelman

22-year-old pleads guilty to stealing over $240 million in bitcoin heist

  • Malone Lam, a 22-year-old Singaporean national, pleaded guilty to a federal racketeering conspiracy charge for stealing over $240 million in bitcoin from a Washington, D.C. resident.
  • Lam and his co-conspirators duped the victim by posing as Google and Gemini crypto exchange representatives to gain access to security codes and siphon off 4,100 bitcoin.
  • Following the theft , Lam embarked on a monthlong spending spree, purchasing a $2 million watch and over 30 high-end vehicles before his arrest by FBI agents in Miami.
  • Lam faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, with his sentencing date in Washington, D.C. yet to be scheduled.
  • The case highlights a sharp rise in cybercrime, as FBI complaints of cryptocurrency investment fraud surged by nearly 50 percent in 2025.

IN FULL

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.