15 Mar 2025

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ZachXBT: The Anonymous Analyst Tracing Billions in Crypto Fraud

ZachXBT: The Anonymous Analyst Tracing Billions in Crypto Fraud

As ZachXBT boarded his flight, he witnessed one of the largest crypto heists in history—an astonishing $243 million disappearing into the depths of the blockchain.

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The airport was crowded, but ZachXBT’s mind was elsewhere. His phone suddenly buzzed with a new alert—a Bitcoin transaction of over $600,000 had just been sent to a small exchange. At first glance, it seemed like just another large transfer.

However, another notification appeared. $1 million. Then $2 million.

Minutes before takeoff, ZachXBT frantically pieced together the clues, tracking crypto addresses in real time. He realized that these funds had been untouched since 2012.

This wasn’t just another trade. Someone had just drained a Bitcoin wallet that had been dormant for a decade.

But who was behind it? And how did they pull it off?

By the time his plane landed, ZachXBT had unraveled the entire scheme and issued an urgent warning to his 650,000 followers.

This marked the beginning of an intense digital manhunt that quickly led him to two young cybercriminals living in luxury, spending millions on private jets, high-end watches, and supercars, completely unaware that every move they made was already being tracked.

The Man Behind the Mask: Who is ZachXBT?

Many have asked this question, but the answer remains unknown.

To most, he is an anonymous digital detective, a lone guardian of the blockchain hunting down criminals.

To law enforcement, he is an invaluable ally, helping trace billions billions in stolen assets.

And to scammers, he is a relentless nightmare that never fades.

Unlike government agencies that take months to investigate, ZachXBT works in real time.

His investigations have resulted in the arrests of crypto criminals, the exposure of corrupt influencers, and the recovery of stolen funds.

Despite his impact, ZachXBT remains anonymous, faceless, and unpaid for his work.

But that doesn't stop him.

ZachXBT: an anonymous digital detective - The Coinomist
ZachXBT: an anonymous digital detective. Source: Х

The Hunt for Thieves Who Stole $243 Million in Bitcoin

As soon as ZachXBT published his findings on the massive crypto heist, anonymous tips flooded his inbox.

One included a video of the hackers celebrating their crime, a reckless display of arrogance and overconfidence.

Oh my god! Oh my god! 243 million dollars! Yes! Do you know how much money that is?

one of them shouted into the camera.

However, they had no idea their digital fingerprints were everywhere.

A few weeks later, ZachXBT identified them as Malone Lam and Jeandiel Serrano, both in their early twenties, recklessly spending their stolen millions if there were no tomorrow.

Lam settled in Miami, renting a waterfront mansion for $68,000 a month.
Serrano was arrested at Los Angeles Airport while returning from a luxury vacation in the Maldives. 

On his wrist was a watch worth half a million dollars.

When ZachXBT saw their photos in the police database, he didn't feel joy.

There was no celebration. No sense of triumph.

Just quiet satisfaction that, this time, the criminals didn't escape justice.

Press report on the detention of Jeandiel Serrano - The Coinomist
Press report on the detention of Jeandiel Serrano. Source: News Miami

Exposing North Korea’s Crypto Empire

While some criminals are motivated by greed, others serve far more sinister agendas.

Through years of investigations, ZachXBT uncovered a vast network of stolen funds tied to North Korean hackers. However, these cybercriminals were not stealing for personal wealth but to finance covert state operations.

His research revealed how hackers infiltrated crypto exchanges, draining funds before victims even realized they had been targeted.

North Korean hackers infiltrate GitHub and npm packages. Is this a new threat to developers? Explore the details of the attack in our report!

As ZachXBT tracked the stolen assets, he saw criminals laundering the funds through covert networks that erased any trace of their origins.

However, the deeper he investigated, the clearer the picture became. This was not just another cybercrime but a state-sponsored operation fueling Pyongyang’s growing financial needs. Moreover, it was designed to evade sanctions and support the regime’s ambitions.

His investigations did more than just reveal North Korea’s involvement in crypto thefts. They also helped authorities freeze millions in stolen funds before they could disappear entirely.

For the first time, law enforcement had the undeniable proof they desperately needed.

People think of crypto scams as individual crimes. But what if I told you some of them are financing entire governments?

ZachXBT once remarked.
Pyongyang uses cryptocurrency stolen by hackers to fund its military programs - The Coinomist
Pyongyang uses cryptocurrency stolen by hackers to fund its military programs. Source: Х

The Battle Against the Powerful: The MachiBigBrother Lawsuit

Despite his achievements, not everyone is happy about ZachXBT exposing their dealings.

In 2022, he published an investigative report on Jeffrey Huang, a famous NFT trader known as MachiBigBrother. ZachXBT accused Huang of embezzling 22,000 ETH (~$40 million) from Formosa Financial.

Huang decided to fight back, not with facts but with a lawsuit.

He sued ZachXBT for defamation, hoping to drown the accusations in overwhelming legal costs.

The biggest crypto hacks of 2024. Check out a quarterly breakdown of key incidents and their impact on the market in our news report!

However, he did not anticipate the crypto community standing firmly in support of its anonymous investigator.

Within days, Binance, Coinbase, Uniswap, and thousands of users rallied behind ZachXBT. His supporters raised more than $1 million to fund his legal battle and defend his right to expose corruption.

In the end, Huang dropped the lawsuit, but the message was clear.

Even billionaires cannot silence the most relentless crypto investigator.

Famous NFT trader Jeffrey Huang aka MachiBigBrother - The Coinomist
Famous NFT trader Jeffrey Huang aka MachiBigBrother. Source: iq.wiki

The Moral Dilemma of a Selfless Justice Seeker

Despite all his achievements, from recovering billions to leading to arrests and returning stolen funds, ZachXBT has never earned a salary.

All his investigations are funded solely through donations.

His commitment is so strong that even after helping the U.S. government recover $20 million in stolen cryptocurrency, he did not receive a single cent.

I see money seized, people arrested, funds returned to victims. That’s my goal. That’s what I set out to do,

he once said.

But how long can one person keep doing this alone? The demand for his work grows every day. More scams. Bigger hacks. More people seeking justice.

For now, ZachXBT keeps going.

Watching. Tracking. Hunting.

But in a world where criminals grow wealthier while those fighting them remain anonymous, one question remains:

Who will protect the protector?

Detective ZachXBT's signature profile picture - The Coinomist
ZachXBT's investigations are funded solely through donations. Source: Х

The Ronin Network hack exposed vulnerabilities in DApps. What went wrong, and how can DeFi projects strengthen security? Read more in our latest report!

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