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China’s cybersecurity agency is accusing the US government of masterminding a $13 billion Bitcoin theft from the LuBian mining pool.
The Chinese National Computer Virus Emergency Response Center claims the 2020 hack was a state-level operation, citing the delayed and discreet movement of the 127,272 stolen tokens as evidence of government involvement, reports Bloomberg.
American authorities say the seized assets belong to Chen Zhi, chairman of Cambodia’s Prince Group.
US prosecutors charged Chen in October with wire fraud and money laundering, declining to detail how or when they obtained the Bitcoin.
This seizure marks the largest forfeiture by the US Department of Justice.
China describes the incident as a “black eats black” tactic, suggesting the US hacked Chen’s holdings as early as 2020.
Chen’s lawyer, Matthew L. Schwartz, filed a court request for more time to trace the funds, calling the US allegations “seriously misguided.”
China has ramped up accusations against the US for cyberattacks, including exploits of Microsoft servers and attacks on its National Time Service Center.
Representatives from the DOJ and Chinese embassy in Washington offered no immediate comments.
