Crypto Promoter “Bitcoin Rodney” Faces Up to 20 Years on New Charges

Another crypto influencer faces the music—and this time, the tune is a potential two-decade prison sentence.

The High-Stakes Game

Promoters who rode the last bull run's hype wave are discovering regulators kept the receipts. The latest case involves a figure known for aggressive online shilling, now confronting charges that could lock him away until the next Bitcoin halving cycle—and then some.

Zeroing In

Authorities aren't just chasing the big fish on exchanges anymore. They're casting nets into the murky waters of social media influence, where promises of generational wealth often mask old-school fraud. The message is clear: a viral tweet isn't a legal defense.

The sentence—up to 20 years—sends a chill through the promo circuit. It's a number that cuts through the usual noise of community warnings and slap-on-the-wrist fines. For every legitimate builder in the space, there's a carnival barker betting that a bull market covers a multitude of sins. Turns out, the SEC's memory is longer than a crypto winter.

It's the oldest story in finance, really: when the tide of easy money goes out, you see who's been swimming without a legal team.

Expanded Indictment Deepens Case Against “Bitcoin Rodney”

The new indictment marks a sharp escalation from the original criminal complaint filed in January 2024, which charged Burton with just two counts related to unlicensed money transmission.

Those earlier charges carried a maximum sentence of five years each. Burton was arrested at Miami International Airport that month while allegedly attempting to leave the country on a one-way ticket to the United Arab Emirates.

A federal judge later denied his bail request, citing him as an “extreme flight risk,” and he has remained in custody since.

According to court filings, Burton and his alleged co-conspirators operated HyperFund, also known as HyperVerse, from June 2020 through May 2024.

Rodney "Bitcoin Rodney" Burton, of Miami, Florida and Prince George's County, Md., has been indicted for his role as an alleged promoter of a $1.8 billion fraud scheme.https://t.co/xlOH6XRM4B

The platform was marketed as a crypto investment opportunity promising daily returns ranging from 0.5% to 1% until investors doubled or tripled their money.

Prosecutors claim those returns were falsely attributed to large-scale cryptocurrency mining operations that did not exist.

By 2021, HyperFund allegedly began restricting and blocking investor withdrawals.

The indictment further alleges that Burton used investor funds to finance a lavish lifestyle, including the purchase of luxury condominiums, high-end sports cars, and a yacht. His trial is currently scheduled for March next year.

From Celebrity Events to Court Records: The Rise of “Bitcoin Rodney”

Burton ROSE to prominence within crypto circles through aggressive marketing and high-profile appearances.

He hosted a 2021 Miami event featuring “Shark Tank” investor Daymond John and musician Akon, and appeared publicly with celebrities such as Jamie Foxx and Rick Ross.

Court records also reference a prior conviction for conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

In recent court filings, Burton has maintained that he believed HyperFund was a legitimate business. He has placed blame on co-founder Xue Lee, also known as Sam Lee, alleging Lee orchestrated an elaborate deception that misled both investors and promoters.

Lee and fellow promoter Brenda “Bitcoin Beautee” Chunga were charged by the SEC in January 2024. Chunga has pleaded guilty, while Lee remains at large.