Gotbit創始人Aleksei Andriunin達成認罪協議，以貧困2300萬美元的加密資產

在加密貨幣行業的重大發展中，Gotbit創始人Aleksei Andriunin與美國當局達成了認罪協議，要求沒收2300萬美元

The founder of cryptocurrency market-making firm Gotbit has reached a plea agreement with U.S. authorities.

加密貨幣營銷公司Gotbit的創始人與美國當局達成了認罪協議。

As part of the deal, Aleksei Andriunin will forfeit $23 million in cryptocurrency assets.

作為交易的一部分，Aleksei Andriunin將貧困2300萬美元的加密貨幣資產。

Andriunin, 26, was facing charges related to market manipulation and wire fraud that could have resulted in up to 20 years in prison.

26歲的安德里寧（Andriunin）面臨與市場操縱和電匯欺詐有關的指控，這可能導致長達20年的監禁。

The market-making firm offered token price-inflating services to various crypto projects, including some based in the United States, according to the indictment.

根據起訴書，這家營銷公司為各種加密項目（包括美國的一些加密項目）提供了代幣的價格昇華服務。

Court documents cited by Law360 state that Andriunin’s activities with Gotbit caused financial “harm to dispersed market participants” who purchased cryptocurrency “at fraudulently inflated prices.”

法律360引用的法院文件指出，安德里寧（Andriunin）與哥特比特（Gotbit）的活動造成了財務“對分散的市場參與者的危害”，他們“以欺詐性的價格誇張”購買了加密貨幣。

This case is one of the most high-profile enforcement actions in the crypto market manipulation space to date.

此案是迄今為止加密市場操縱空間中最引人注目的執法行動之一。

The plea agreement, if approved by the court, could result in no prison time for Andriunin. Instead, he would serve three years of supervised release with strict conditions preventing his participation in any cryptocurrency activities during that period.

如果獲得法院批准的認罪協議可能不會為Andriunin帶來監禁。取而代之的是，他將在嚴格的條件下服務三年的監督釋放，以阻止他在此期間參加任何加密貨幣活動。

The assets subject to forfeiture total $23 million and include amounts kept in stablecoins issued by Tether and Circle. These funds are spread across four wallets that were “solely controlled” by Andriunin, according to federal prosecutors.

資產總額為2300萬美元，其中包括Tether和Circle發行的Stablecoins中保留的金額。據聯邦檢察官稱，這些資金分佈在四個受安德里寧“完全控制”的錢包中。

Specifically, Andriunin will forfeit USDT (Tether) valued at nearly $14 million stored in two different crypto wallet addresses. He will also surrender approximately $9 million in USDC stored in two additional wallets.

具體來說，安德里寧（Andriunin）將沒收了在兩個不同的加密錢包地址中存儲的價值近1400萬美元的紐約特（Tether）。他還將在另外兩個錢包中投降約900萬美元的USDC。

The court documents note that while these assets are listed as property of Gotbit Consulting LLC, the wallets are solely controlled by Andriunin on Gotbit’s behalf.

法院文件指出，儘管這些資產被列為Gotbit Consulting LLC的財產，但這些資產僅由Andriunin代表Andriunin控制。

As stated by Lead B. Foley from the U.S. Attorney’s office, “Defendant agrees to assist fully in the forfeiture of the above assets. Defendant agrees to promptly take all steps necessary to pass clear title to the above assets to the United States.”

正如美國檢察官辦公室中的B. Foley鉛所述，“被告同意完全協助沒收上述資產。被告同意迅速採取所有必要的步驟，以將上述資產的明確所有權傳遞給美國。”

Prosecutors: Gotbit Engaged in Extensive Wash Trading

檢察官：Gotbit從事大量WASH交易

Gotbit's activities have been a subject of interest for U.S. authorities. In October 2023, federal prosecutors in New York charged Gotbit and four affiliates with engaging in a cryptocurrency market manipulation scheme.

Gotbit的活動一直是美國當局感興趣的主題。 2023年10月，紐約的聯邦檢察官指控GOTBIT和四個分支機構從事加密貨幣市場操縱計劃。

The indictment alleges that Gotbit engaged in extensive “wash trades” that “deceptively created the appearance of increased trading activity.”

起訴書稱，戈特比特（Gotbit）從事廣泛的“ Wash Trades”，“欺騙性地出現了增加的交易活動”。

Wash trading refers to the practice of simultaneously buying and selling the same asset to create artificial trading volume, which can mislead other market participants.

WASH交易是指同時買賣相同資產以創建人工交易量的實踐，這可能會誤導其他市場參與者。

In a separate complaint filed by the SEC against Gotbit and Fedor Kedrov, described as the firm's marketing director, regulators claimed that the crypto firm maintained detailed records.

在SEC對Gotbit和Fedor Kedrov提出的另一項投訴中，被描述為該公司的市場總監，監管機構聲稱該加密貨幣公司保持了詳細的記錄。

These records allegedly compared artificially “created volume” against natural “market volume” in crypto markets.

據稱，這些記錄將人為地“創建”與加密貨幣市場的自然“市場量”進行了比較。

The indictment suggests that Gotbit openly recruited clients with pitches explicitly outlining how their service would help obscure activities on public blockchains. This suggests a deliberate effort to manipulate market perceptions of trading activity and liquidity.

起訴書表明，Gotbit公開招募了用音調招募的客戶，明確概述了他們的服務將如何幫助掩蓋公共區塊鏈的活動。這表明，有意努力操縱市場對交易活動和流動性的看法。

Interestingly, in a 2019 interview later referenced in Justice Department filings, Andriunin admitted that Gotbit’s business model was “not entirely ethical.” This admission may have played a role in the prosecution’s case against him.

有趣的是，在隨後在司法部文件中提到的2019年一次採訪中，安德里寧承認，戈特比特的商業模式“不是完全道德的”。這次承認可能在起訴對他的案件中發揮了作用。

Gotbit was one of four companies charged by U.S. prosecutors in October 2023. This marked the first criminal prosecution specifically targeting market manipulation and sham trading in the cryptocurrency industry.

Gotbit是2023年10月美國檢察官指控的四家公司之一。這標誌著第一個針對加密貨幣行業市場操縱和假交易的刑事起訴。

The other three companies named in the action are ZM Quant, CLS Global, and MyTrade.

該行動中命名的其他三家公司是ZM Quant，CLS Global和MyTrade。

According to reports, over $25 million in cryptocurrency has been seized in connection with the broader case. Law enforcement officials even created a fake digital token to catch alleged criminals in the act of manipulation, highlighting the sophisticated approach taken by prosecutors.

據報導，與更廣泛的案件有關，已扣押了超過2500萬美元的加密貨幣。執法人員甚至創建了一個虛假的數字代幣，以在操縱行為中抓獲所謂的罪犯，強調了檢察官採取的精緻方法。

Following the charges, many meme coin projects that had partnered with Gotbit for liquidity services began distancing themselves from the firm. Some issued statements disavowing their previous relationship with the company, indicating the ripple effects these charges have had throughout the cryptocurrency ecosystem.

在收費之後，許多與Gotbit合作進行流動性服務的模因硬幣項目開始遠離公司。一些發出的聲明否定了他們先前與公司的關係，表明這些費用在整個加密貨幣生態系統中產生了連鎖反應。

The plea deal is still pending approval from the court. While the agreement could result in no prison time and no additional fines beyond the forfeiture, the court retains final discretion over the sentencing terms.

認罪協議仍在法院批准中。雖然該協議可能不會導致監禁時間，也沒有被沒收以外的其他罰款，但法院對判刑條款保留了最終酌處權。

Federal prosecutors have outlined that the maximum penalties for the market manipulation and wire fraud charges could include fines of $500,000 or twice the amount gained or lost from the offenses. Additional penalties could include mandatory restitution and up to five years of probation.

聯邦檢察官概述說，市場操縱和電匯欺詐指控的最高處罰可能包括罰款500,000美元，或者是從犯罪中獲得或損失的金額的兩倍。額外的處罰可能包括強制性賠償和最多五年緩刑。

The plea letter details an agreement communicated to both the court and defense counsel. It includes provisions allowing either party to withdraw if the court rejects any element of the proposed deal.

認罪信詳細介紹了一項與法院和辯護律師的協議。它包括允許任何一方拒絕擬議交易的任何要素的規定。