Zhimin Qian, 47, tricked over 128,000 people in China and converted their money into Bitcoin.
She fled China with fake documents and entered the UK to hide her illegal gains.
Qian tried to launder stolen cryptocurrency by buying property in late 2018, authorities reported.
Legal Conviction in the UK
UK courts convicted Qian of leading a Bitcoin fraud connected to a £5.5 billion seizure.
Also known as Yadi Zhang, she admitted illegally acquiring and holding cryptocurrency at Southwark Crown Court.
Police seized 61,000 Bitcoins from Qian, marking one of the largest crypto confiscations worldwide.
Her guilty plea followed a seven-year international investigation into money laundering, the Metropolitan Police said.
Warnings and Ongoing Actions
Will Lyne of the Metropolitan Police called this one of the UK’s largest money laundering cases.
Authorities previously jailed Jian Wen, 43, for six years and eight months for aiding Qian’s fraud.
Robin Weyell of the Crown Prosecution Service warned criminals increasingly exploit Bitcoin to hide stolen wealth.
She added the CPS will prevent fraudsters from regaining illegal assets through confiscation or civil proceedings.
Qian will face sentencing at a later date.
