Aleksei Andriunin, the founder of the cryptocurrency market maker platform Gotbit, has entered into a plea deal with US federal prosecutors in Massachusetts. He will forfeit approximately $23 million in Tether USDt and Circle’s USDC as part of the agreement. Andriunin has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and market manipulation. The plea deal, confirmed by legal news service Law360, specifies that this forfeiture will not affect any further fines or penalties he may face. The legal agreement is stated to be between Andriunin and the Massachusetts attorney, Leah Foley, and does not extend to the US Attorney General or other authorities. Andriunin was extradited to the US in October 2024 after being arrested in Portugal, and he faces serious allegations related to a large-scale cryptocurrency market manipulation scheme involving artificial trading volumes. Additional charges have been filed against other Gotbit employees, emphasizing the broader implications of their operations spanning from 2017 to 2024.

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