The mastermind behind the HyperFund crypto scam, "Bitcoin Rodney," has been charged with additional wire fraud and could face decades in prison.

U.S. Attorneys in Maryland have announced additional charges against cryptocurrency promoter Rodney Burton (known online as "Bitcoin Rodney") for allegedly participating in the promotion of the HyperFund (also known as HyperVerse) Ponzi scheme, which is estimated to be worth approximately $1.8 billion. The new indictment accuses him of multiple counts, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, and operating an illegal money transfer business. Prosecutors allege that between 2020 and 2024, Burton and others packaged HyperFund as a legitimate cryptocurrency investment platform, promising investors daily returns of 0.5%–1%, claiming that the returns came from large-scale cryptocurrency mining, but the mining operations did not exist. Starting in 2021, the platform began restricting user withdrawals. The indictment also alleges that Burton used investor funds to purchase luxury apartments, sports cars, and yachts. If convicted on all charges, Burton could face decades in federal prison. He remains in custody, and the trial is scheduled to begin next March. Previously, Sam Lee, another co-founder of HyperFund, had been indicted by the SEC but remains at large. (The Block)