LONDON – She lived a life of luxury that earned her the nickname “goddess of wealth”, but Chinese businesswoman Zhimin Qian now faces a long jail sentence after police made Britain’s largest-ever cryptocurrency seizure of Bitcoin worth over US$6 billion (S$7.8 billion).

The 47-year-old, who used the alias Yadi Zhang, defrauded more than 128,000 victims through a scheme in China from 2014 to 2017, and stored the illegally obtained funds in Bitcoin assets.

Qian played a leading role in the scam.

After fleeing China in 2018 using false documents, she came to Britain, where she attempted to launder the proceeds, according to police and prosecutors.

She faces up to 14 years in prison.

The Chinese national, who pleaded guilty to acquiring and possessing criminal property on Sept 29, will be sentenced after a two-day hearing on Nov 3 and Nov 4 at London’s Southwark Crown Court.

A Malaysian accomplice, Seng Hok Ling, also 47, admitted to money laundering at the same court earlier and is also due to be sentenced.