Incognito Market Mastermind Handed a 30-Year Prison Sentence
A U.S. federal court has sentenced Rui-Siang Lin, the operator of Incognito Market, to 30 years in prison. The dark web marketplace facilitated over $105 million in narcotics sales using cryptocurrency before its shutdown in 2024.
Lin, a 24-year-old Taiwanese national known online as "Pharaoh," pleaded guilty in December 2024. The platform operated from October 2020, selling cocaine, methamphetamine, and counterfeit oxycodone laced with fentanyl.
The case highlights the persistent use of digital assets in illicit activities, even as mainstream adoption grows. Cryptocurrencies' pseudonymous nature continues to present challenges for law enforcement despite blockchain analytics advancements.