Overview
- Rodney Burton, known online as “Bitcoin Rodney,” pleaded guilty on Monday, June 15, 2026, to conspiring to operate an unlicensed money-transmitting business connected to the HyperFund scheme.
- Federal filings say HyperFund used multi-level marketing and false claims of crypto-mining returns to siphon about $1.8–$1.89 billion from investors and began blocking withdrawals in July 2021.
- Prosecutors contend Burton was a chief promoter who personally received more than $7.8 million and used proceeds to buy luxury condos, cars, and a yacht.
- Burton faces up to five years in prison with sentencing scheduled for July 23, 2026, and his earlier charges were expanded in December 2025 to include wire fraud and money-laundering counts.
- The plea underscores a broader Justice Department push to hold celebrity-linked promoters accountable and could aid efforts to trace and recover investor funds even as alleged co-founder Sam Lee remains at large.