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Malone Lam pleads guilty in $245 million crypto theft conspiracy

A guilty plea from Malone Lam resolves a $245 million cryptocurrency theft conspiracy, with US prosecutors saying he organized an international network that hunted cryptocurrency holders through social engineering and…

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NewsMV Markets Desk
3 min read
9 September 2026Markets desk
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Key takeaways

  • Malone Lam pleaded guilty in a $245 million cryptocurrency theft conspiracy.
  • US prosecutors identified Lam as the organizer of an international network that targeted cryptocurrency holders.
  • The scheme combined two methods against targets: digital social engineering and physical home break-ins.
  • Sentencing is the next proceeding on the record.

A guilty plea from Malone Lam resolves a $245 million cryptocurrency theft conspiracy, with US prosecutors saying he organized an international network that hunted cryptocurrency holders through social engineering and home break-ins.

Prosecutors placed Lam as the organizer of the operation. The network reached internationally and ran two methods against targets: social engineering on the digital side and physical home break-ins. That combination of digital manipulation and physical intrusion is what defines the government's framing of the scheme. For anyone watching digital asset custody risk, the break-in element is the detail that extends this beyond a standard crypto fraud case.

Sentencing is the next proceeding on the record.

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Filed via cointelegraph.com

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Frequently asked

How much cryptocurrency was involved in the theft conspiracy?

The conspiracy involved $245 million in stolen cryptocurrency.

What role did prosecutors say Malone Lam played?

Prosecutors placed Lam as the organizer of the international operation.

What methods did the network use against its targets?

The network used two methods: social engineering on the digital side and physical home break-ins.

What happens next in the case?

Sentencing is the next proceeding on the record following the guilty plea.