Chinese Woman Pleads Not Guilty to Bitcoin Laundering Charges in the UK

Chinese national Zhimin Qian, also known as Yadi Zhang, has pleaded not guilty to charges related to money laundering using bitcoin in a UK court. This case brings attention to the growing issue of how cryptocurrencies are being used for illegal activities.

Defendant Pleads Not Guilty

Following her arrest in late April, the Chinese woman faced charges involving two counts of money laundering crimes. The UK’s Criminal Prosecution Service claims that she possessed and transferred ill-gotten crypto assets on or before April 23rd. Backing her plea, the defendant’s lawyers said:

“Ms. Zhang denies all allegations of criminal conduct and intends to vigorously contest this case.”

Zhang’s associate, Seng Hok Ling, was also arrested and charged for the same crime. Like his partner, he pleaded not guilty to having or entering into money laundering while knowing that the property involved was criminal.

Bloomberg’s report reveals that both accused individuals are set to face trial at Southwark Crown Court on September 29, 2025.

Illegal Activities Involving BTC

It is no surprise that bad actors have capitalized on the blockchain’s decentralized nature to execute illegal activities, including theft, fraud, and money laundering. Online fraudsters have also surged, where they trick individuals into investing in fake crypto schemes. Once victims send their money, it is usually laundered quickly through fake transactions, making it challenging to recover such funds.

To combat cryptocurrency crime, Australian police recently seized $6 million worth of cryptocurrency linked to organized criminal acts. The seized crypto belonged to the alleged mastermind behind Ghost, an encrypted messaging service used by criminal groups to coordinate illegal activities. Europol and other global law enforcement agencies shut Ghost down after a two-year investigation.

Last week, an Indian national was sentenced to five years in jail for stealing $20 million from a fake website posing as the Pro platform for the American crypto exchange Coinbase.