Gotbit Founder Sentenced to 8 Months for Crypto Wash Trading Scheme
Aleksei Andriunin, the 26-year-old founder and CEO of Gotbit, has been sentenced to eight months in prison by a U.S. District Court in Massachusetts. The dual Russian-Portuguese citizen pleaded guilty to wire fraud and market manipulation charges tied to a multi-year wash trading scheme that artificially inflated cryptocurrency trading volumes.
Prosecutors revealed Gotbit executed millions in fraudulent trades between 2018-2024 while masquerading as a legitimate market maker. The case marks another victory for the DOJ''s intensified crackdown on crypto market abuses. Andriunin''s arrest in Portugal and subsequent extradition demonstrates the global reach of U.S. financial regulators.