Blue Sky Greed Victims' Compensation Deadline is May 22; Over 11,300 claims accepted by the UK High Court

The UK High Court held an asset disposal hearing from February 16 to 17 regarding the Blue Sky Grey money laundering case involving over 60,000 Bitcoins. More than 11,300 Chinese victims plan to submit claims for recovery, accounting for only about 8.8% of the total 128,409 victims. Under the UK Proceeds of Crime Act, all victims can register evidence and assert their recovery rights with the High Court before May 22, 2026.

Case Overview: From Illegal Fundraising in Tianjin to the UK’s Largest Bitcoin Money Laundering Case

Tianjin Blue Sky Grey Electronics Technology Co., Ltd. was officially established by the main suspect, Qian Zhiming, in March 2014. It set up seven sales regions across Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Northeast China, East China, South China, Central China, Northwest China, and Southwest China, promoting illegal financial products nationwide. From April 2014 to August 2017, Blue Sky Grey launched ten financial products, offering 1 to 3 times investment returns to illegally attract public deposits, involving over 128,000 victims.

In July 2017, Blue Sky Grey’s capital chain broke, and Qian Zhiming fled. In September of the same year, he entered the UK under the alias Zhang Yadi. UK police investigations revealed that during his time in the UK, Qian Zhiming engaged in large-scale Bitcoin transactions for money laundering, involving approximately 32 billion RMB. His purchase of luxury homes triggered anti-money laundering checks. In April 2024, Qian Zhiming was arrested in the UK and sentenced to 11 years and 8 months in prison. Over 60,000 Bitcoins have been frozen by UK authorities.

Qian Zhiming’s fraud activities date back even earlier. Court documents show that he led multi-level marketing activities in Hong Kong under the name “Hong Kong UBS International Group,” using the alias Li Xia, and was involved in a pyramid scheme case in Hefei, Anhui. He is a repeat offender of financial fraud.

UK High Court Procedure: Key Points for Victims’ Recovery

The hearing coincided with Chinese New Year’s Eve and the first day of the Lunar New Year in 2026, marking an important procedural stage for asset disposal. Under the UK Proceeds of Crime Act, victims can proactively register evidence with the court and claim recovery of frozen assets.

Key Data at a Glance

  • Frozen Bitcoins: Over 60,000
  • Money Laundering Involved: About 32 billion RMB
  • Total Victims: 128,409
  • Registered Claimants: Over 11,300 (about 8.8% of victims)
  • Claim Registration Deadline: May 22, 2026
  • Main Suspect Qian Zhiming’s Sentence: 11 years and 8 months by UK court

Currently, more than 91% of victims have not submitted recovery claims. Legal observers note that the May 22 deadline is critical for victims to secure their right to claim losses. Missing this registration could result in losing the opportunity to assert their claims within the UK legal framework.

Frequently Asked Questions

How did Blue Sky Grey’s illegal fundraising operate, and why did over 120,000 victims fall for it?

Blue Sky Grey promoted ten financial products across seven sales regions nationwide, offering high returns of 1 to 3 times. Main suspect Qian Zhiming claimed to hold dual doctorates from Tsinghua University and studied in the US to establish credibility. Between 2014 and 2017, Blue Sky Grey attracted over 128,000 victims. After the capital chain broke in 2017, the main suspect fled.

How does the UK Proceeds of Crime Act protect Blue Sky Grey victims’ recovery rights?

The UK Proceeds of Crime Act allows victims of criminal cases to register evidence with the court and claim recovery of frozen assets. In this case, victims must complete registration with the UK High Court before May 22, 2026, to maintain their legal right to recover losses during subsequent asset disposal procedures.

What will happen to the frozen 60,000 Bitcoins, and how will they be distributed to victims?

The distribution will be decided by the UK High Court based on the number of registered victims, each person’s loss proportion, and relevant legal considerations. Details are pending judicial procedures. Since only 8.8% of victims have registered, the final distribution outcome will be significantly influenced by the total number of registrants.

View Original
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to Disclaimer.

Related Articles

A man in South Korea was prosecuted for attempting to poison and kill a business partner after a failed cryptocurrency investment.

South Korean prosecutors have charged a 39-year-old man with attempting to poison his business partner by lacing coffee with banned pesticide methamidophos after losing money on cryptocurrency investments. The suspect allegedly sought to gain sole control of the company following the failed crypto investment. The victim regained consciousness after being in a coma for three days. The case is scheduled for trial on March 10.

GateNewsBot1h ago

U.S. Senator pressures CFTC to fully ban "death-related" prediction market contracts

Six Democratic U.S. Senators have written to the CFTC Chairman, urging a ban on prediction market contracts related to individual deaths, citing concerns that these contracts could lead to physical harm and national security risks. They referenced multiple cases, to which the CFTC has not yet publicly responded.

GateNewsBot2h ago

Terraform Files Lawsuit Against Jane Street Over UST Collapse

The lawsuit against Jane Street Group alleges insider trading and front-running contributed to the collapse of TerraUSD and LUNA, erasing $40 billion in market value. Terraform Labs seeks damages for creditors and hopes to address misconduct in the crypto market.

CryptoFrontNews2h ago

Jane Street Accused of Using Insider Info to Profit From Terraform Labs’ 2022 Implosion

The administrator for Terraform Labs, Todd Snyder, has filed a federal lawsuit against Wall Street firm Jane Street, alleging it used insider information to profit from the $40 billion collapse of Terrausd and Luna in May 2022. Alleged Insider Pipeline The administrator overseeing the wind-down o

Coinpedia2h ago

Tsim Sha Tsui Cryptocurrency Company Employee Arrested for Stealing 2.67 Million USDT

ChainCatcher News: A cryptocurrency exchange platform in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, has experienced a theft. A 34-year-old network engineer is suspected of stealing approximately 20 customers' USDT (Tether), totaling about 2.67 million USDT, equivalent to approximately 20.87 million HKD. The police have detained him.

GateNewsBot3h ago
Comment
0/400
No comments
Trade Crypto Anywhere Anytime
qrCode
Scan to download Gate App
Community
  • 简体中文
  • English
  • Tiếng Việt
  • 繁體中文
  • Español
  • Русский
  • Français (Afrique)
  • Português (Portugal)
  • Bahasa Indonesia
  • 日本語
  • بالعربية
  • Українська
  • Português (Brasil)