Victim of Bitcoin scam? How to trace your losses to the "Largest Ever" ($15B) Seizure of Bitcoin.

On October 14, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the seizure of approximately 127,271 Bitcoin (BTC), valued at around $15 billion based on recent market prices, from Cambodian tycoon Chen Zhi, the founder and chairman of Prince Holding Group. (See: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/media/1416291/dl)

This marks the largest cryptocurrency seizure in DOJ history and is tied to allegations of a massive "pig-butchering" scam network involving forced labor compounds in Cambodia. Chen Zhi was indicted on charges of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy, with the schemes dating back to around 2015 and victimizing people worldwide, including over 250 U.S. residents.

The scams, known as "sha zhu pan" in Chinese, involved trafficked workers held against their will in compounds like Jinbei, Golden Fortune, and Mango Park, where they were forced to perpetrate online cryptocurrency investment fraud. Proceeds were laundered through shell companies, online gambling, and cryptocurrency mining operations, including entities like Warp Data in Laos and Lubian in China.

Blockchain analysis by the FBI linked the funds to these illicit activities, showing techniques like "spraying" (disaggregating funds) and "funneling" (reconsolidating them) to obscure origins. Notably, a significant portion of the seized BTC reportedly originated from a "theft" connected to Iran-China Bitcoin mining operations.

The U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) also designated Prince Group and its affiliates as a transnational criminal organization, blocking their access to the U.S. financial system. The UK imposed similar sanctions on Chen Zhi and related entities. The BTC has been transferred to U.S. government-controlled wallets, adding to the U.S.'s holdings, which now exceed $37 billion in Bitcoin according to some reports.

The seized BTC was previously held in the following 25 wallet addresses (as detailed in

the forfeiture complaint at https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/media/1416291/dl), grouped into 13 clusters based on funding patterns. The total amounts per address are approximate as of the 2020 analysis:

Address Amount (BTC)

3Pja5FPK1wFB9LkWWJai8XYL1qjbqqT9Ye 20452.85228

3FrM1He2ZDbsSKmYpEZQNGjFTLMgCZZkaf 14111.92546835

3B1u4PsuFzww1P8if5jYmitXxpMs2EMSqt 2999.09118947

3JJ8b7voMPSPChHazdHkrZMqxC7Cb4vNk2 1000.08105870

3PWNGS2357TnjRX7FpewqR3e3qsWwpFrJH 0.00736862

34Jpa4Eu3ApoPVUKNTN2WeuXVVq1jzxgPi 14139.260

338uPVW8drux5gSemDS4gFLSGrSfAiEvpX 9099.01146835

3J4sTPyD1g6KvNUSJxjwLs4iaPeDPqxUZr 499.90936500

33uEsaGLcF9H46Dvzx1kMnuMCQ13ndkAjV 3000.09125022

3KabDvdetZXDHNm9HXowLc9SppiSXKn7UU 9500.99220072

38Md7BghVmV7XUUT1Vt9CvVcc5ssMD6ojt 15033.29416267

3GaB3nRWA1PLc3XQkkbpVtFwYYZEuMxD4i 0.02415042

32i6n2vXhjvJg1vniURFy7A5VK6eG6oDgg 3000.09118974

3HuUiXmKN3beQSoM97kWjK1fesWWJvKvaZ 4500.00841044

34MFtk9iMxYcUPZWXHfiGfqz4o7X3kpJbV 0.5084661

3LjTXe31gepN8nW3AZyKpyD2QwbtmfjNwm 156.04996844

3MHa8JJ3bu8j3x3iQHhqsrZvk1EjBQmC78 2700.44863780

3AWpzKtkHfWsiv9RGXKA3Z8951LefsUGXQ 10500.04293955

34KYo7VdVr5CJ7m4hYhH9RpwqXhbsTrw4T 4500.00941044

3DdFSGcXaP2rZ9CaL3tjnqRARvQ5K3VW4a 251.6000482

39B6oSa58qNpFMGpuowtRHAYp3fM4ghXRq 212.5930613

3NmHmQte2rP8pS54U3B8LPYQKkpG1pFF69 8611.07446862

3BA3PEF4BMoy9y3kdMRUdMhL8Gp24vikhF 2.16989588

389JrNcn8trYgYi2EtHi4X7bTCqtVbep86 1500.01255361

339khCuymVi4FKbW9hCHkH3CQwdopXiTvA 1500.00

As of the current date, Bitcoin's price is approximately $110,418 USD per BTC putting

the total seized value near $14-15 billion.

The crimes alleged in this case center on large-scale "pig-butchering" (or "sha zhu pan") scams, which are a form of cyber-enabled investment fraud. These schemes typically involve scammers using social engineering tactics —such as building false romantic or professional relationships via messaging apps, social media, or unsolicited contacts—to gain victims' trust over time. Victims are then coerced into transferring funds or cryptocurrency to fraudulent platforms under the pretense of high-return investments in crypto, forex, or other markets. Once funds are obtained, scammers manipulate fake account balances to show illusory profits, demand additional fees for withdrawals, and eventually ghost the victims.

Victim demographics aren't detailed extensively in official documents, but they include individuals from the U.S. (e.g., in New York, California) and worldwide, often targeted based on procured phone numbers or social media profiles. One example from the complaint involves a California resident who lost over $400,000 in cryptocurrency transfers between July and September 2021. The broader pig-butchering ecosystem in Southeast

Asia is estimated to generate $50–75 billion annually, with Cambodia's portion at $12.5–19 billion.

Victims that have not been contacted already can self-identify and file petitions for remission (a process where the DOJ may return forfeited assets to compensate losses) via the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS). Petitions must be submitted to the deciding official (e.g., the Chief of MLARS for judicial forfeitures) within timelines specified in forfeiture notices, often published on forfeiture.gov. Supporting evidence like proof of loss is required, and tracing will help prioritize direct victims over other claimants.

If you were the victim of a pig-butchering" (or "sha zhu pan") scam, and you sent Bitcoin to a scammer's wallet, you may be wondering if your Bitcoin ended up being seized in a case such as the above.

If you know the scammer BTC address you sent Bitcoin to, you can check to see if there is any tracing between your bitcoin address and one of the above seized addresses by entering both addresses at a tracing website such as: https://bitcoinpaths.com/

If you find a connection, an experienced attorney such as Isaac Safier, Esq. can assist with filing a claim for seizure cases such as this one, ensuring that your claim has the best chance of recovery.

Disclaimer:

The information contained in this blog post is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or investment advice. The discussion of cryptocurrency seizures, digital asset tracing, or related enforcement actions is intended to offer general insight into recent legal developments and does not constitute a comprehensive analysis of any specific case or situation.

Reading this post or contacting our firm through this website does not create an attorney–client relationship. You should not act or refrain from acting based on any information included herein without seeking appropriate legal counsel from a qualified attorney familiar with your particular circumstances.

While we strive to ensure the accuracy and timeliness of the information presented, laws and regulations governing cryptocurrency and asset forfeiture change rapidly, and we make no guarantees as to the completeness or currentness of any content.