FBI Seizes Record $8 Billion in Crypto in Global Scam Compound Crackdown
Highlights:
- FBI seized over 127,000 Bitcoin in a record $8 billion crypto fraud crackdown.
- The operation targeted scam networks that used fake jobs and online investment schemes.
- Authorities arrested nearly 300 people and helped free almost 2,000 trapped workers.
The FBI has seized a record-setting $8 billion in cryptocurrency during a major international crackdown on scam compounds and organized crime networks, Fox News reported on Thursday. The operation also led to hundreds of arrests and targeted criminal groups accused of stealing from Americans through online scams.
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According to Fox News, the FBI confiscated more than 127,000 Bitcoin during the arrest of Chen Zhi, the CEO of Cambodia-based Prince Holding Group. Officials said the seized crypto was worth more than $8 billion and may have been worth over $15 billion at the time of seizure. Authorities described it as the largest forfeiture in U.S. government history.
FBI Seizes Over $8B in Crypto, Largest Forfeiture in U.S. History
According to Fox News, the FBI has seized more than $8 billion worth of cryptocurrency and arrested nearly 300 suspects as part of a global crackdown on scam compounds operating across Myanmar, Cambodia,… pic.twitter.com/y7kQTg1yOj
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) May 30, 2026
FBI Targets Global Scam Networks
The crackdown focused on scam compounds operating across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. These compounds are not simple call centers. FBI Director Kash Patel said they are organized criminal operations built to steal from Americans, launder money, and exploit people on a large scale.
Patel said the FBI helped shut down more than $8 billion in scam center fraud, free nearly 2,000 trafficked workers, and arrest nearly 300 people. He added that the agency would continue using federal tools against groups that target Americans.
The investigation also involved a group known as the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army. Fox News reported that the group is an armed militia linked to Myanmar and has alleged ties to Chinese organized crime. The U.S. government has already designated it as a transnational criminal organization.
Crypto Scams Hit American Victims
The FBI said some victims lost huge amounts of money in these scams. One U.S. citizen reportedly lost as much as $3 million through an online romance scam. These scams often begin with fake trust-building messages before criminals push victims toward fake crypto investments.
Fox News also reported that Chen Zhi faces federal charges of wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy. The Prince Group is accused of running guarded scam compounds around the world.
In Dubai, local police and the FBI arrested 275 people. Six of them are expected to be extradited to the United States to face federal charges. Authorities said each of the nine compounds raided in Dubai was allegedly receiving $6 million in proceeds from fraud per year.
The FBI also worked with Starlink, the satellite internet company owned by Elon Musk. The bureau provided geolocation data to help identify scammers using Starlink terminals. Starlink then suspended more than 7,000 terminals in Myanmar that were allegedly linked to fraud activity.
Scam Compounds Also Exploit Workers
The case also shows the human trafficking side of online fraud. According to the FBI, some criminal groups lure people with fake job offers, good salary promises, and work visa claims. After reaching the compounds, many workers are forced to carry out scams under threats of violence.
The crackdown followed complaints received by the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center last year. Over that year, the center received nearly 72,000 complaints linked to cryptocurrency investment fraud. Reported losses exceeded $7.5 billion, though the FBI believes the actual figure is much higher.
The seizure marks one of the biggest crypto-related enforcement actions ever reported by U.S. authorities. It also shows how digital assets remain a major target for global fraud networks. For crypto users, the case is another warning to avoid unknown investment offers, fake romance schemes, and platforms that promise easy profits.
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Syed Ali Haider
Ali Haider is a contributing crypto writer at Crypto2Community. He is a crypto and blockchain journalist with over six years of experience and has long advocated for digital freedom and cybersecurity. Haider has been featured in several high-profile crypto and finance outlets, including Coincult, AltcoinBeacon, BTCRead, and more.
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