Ahmed Muen appears for second defendant in £5.5 billion cryptocurrency fraud

Introduction: World’s Largest Cryptocurrency Fraud

Ahmed Muen, led by Narita Bahra KC, appeared for the second defendant in the largest cryptocurrency fraud cases ever prosecuted — and one of the most significant fraud trials to come before the English courts. The case has attracted extensive national and international attention, involving what investigators describe as one of the largest crypto-asset seizures in history, with digital assets valued in the billions.

Background and International Investigation

The case followed a seven-year international investigation involving UK and Chinese law enforcement authorities. It centred on the possession and transfer of criminal property — namely cryptocurrency — purchased using the proceeds of a vast investment fraud committed by the first defendant and others in China. Investigators ultimately recovered bitcoin assets worth over £5 billion, believed to be the largest cryptocurrency seizure ever recorded.

The Fraud and Laundering Scheme

Between 2014 and 2017, the first defendant defrauded more than 128,000 victims in China. The illicit funds were converted into bitcoin and laundered through property acquisitions in the UK. The first defendant entered the UK using false documentation and successfully evaded detection for five years before being apprehended.

Complex Proceedings and Legal Issues

The second defendant faced intricate allegations of large-scale money laundering conducted through cryptocurrency exchanges and blockchain networks. The case raised novel legal and technical issues at the intersection of criminal law, technology, and financial regulation — including the treatment of volatile digital assets in confiscation proceedings and the evidential complexities of tracing blockchain transactions across multiple jurisdictions. Representation required expertise in forensic blockchain analysis, cross-border asset transfers, and evolving legal standards in crypto-related offences.

Significance and Professional Impact Heard at Southwark Crown Court, the matter has been described as a landmark in the prosecution of digital-asset crime, expected to influence how English courts address large-scale crypto-laundering cases in the future. Ahmed Muen’s role underscores his growing reputation for managing complex financial-crime cases, particularly those involving emerging technologies. His practice consistently focuses on fraud, confiscation, and proceeds-of-crime matters — combining strategic, results-driven defence with in-depth technical understanding.

News coverage

BBC News

Sky News

Thornhill Legal

About the barrister

Ahmed Muen was called to the bar in 2014. He is ranked in both Chambers and Partners and Legal500.

Legal 500 2025 quotes “Ahmed is an absolute star in court” and in Legal 500 2026 quotes “Ahmed is one of the easiest barristers to work with. His advocacy is calm, collected and he has the jury listening to every word he says”.

Chambers and Partners 2026 quotes “He mastered an extremely voluminous and complex case, cross-examined witnesses with precision and dealt with various difficult legal issues with ability far beyond his year of call” and “Ahmed Muen is technical, personable and bright.“

Ahmed is instructed in highly serious and complex cases with particular emphasis in gangs and organised crime.

To instruct Ahmed, contact his clerks Ryan Bartlett or Amie Harris on 020 7404 1881.