Founders of $190M Brazilian Cryptocurrency Ponzi Scheme Receive Combined 170+ Year Prison Terms
In a landmark ruling on April 18, 2025, Brazilian judiciary authorities handed down severe sentences exceeding 170 years in total to the masterminds behind a massive cryptocurrency-based Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors of $190 million. The elaborate fraud, which operated under the guise of a legitimate digital asset investment platform, promised unrealistic returns to unsuspecting victims before collapsing in 2023. This case represents one of the most significant crackdowns on crypto-related financial crimes in Latin America, setting a strong precedent for regulatory enforcement in the region’s burgeoning digital asset space.