Daniel Shin
Co-founder of Terraform Labs (with Do Kwon) and founder of the Chai payments platform. South Korean prosecutors indicted him in 2023 over the Terra/LUNA collapse (fraud, embezzlement, Capital Markets Act violations); he denies wrongdoing and his trial remains ongoing.
Also known as: Shin Hyun-seong, Shin Hyun-seung
Note: Daniel Shin is indicted in South Korea, denies the charges (saying he left before the 2022 collapse), and has not been convicted; arrest warrants against him were rejected twice and he has remained free.
Bio
Daniel Shin (Shin Hyun-seong), a Wharton graduate and e-commerce entrepreneur, co-founded Terraform Labs in 2018 with Do Kwon and built the Chai payments platform associated with the Terra ecosystem. [1][2]
Status
On April 25, 2023, Seoul Southern District prosecutors indicted Shin and several other Terra figures on charges including fraud, breach of duty, embezzlement, and Capital Markets Act violations, alleging he and accomplices reaped ~462.9 billion won in illegal profits; prosecutors framed his culpability as exceeding Kwon's. Shin denies the charges, and his trial has remained active. [1][2]
Bracketed numbers refer to the numbered sources listed below.
Linked scams & cases
Sources (2)
See also
- Donald BasileIndividualsFounder behind Bitcoin Latinum (LTNM). The SEC charged him in 2026 with defrauding investors of ~$16M by falsely claiming the token was insured and asset-backed, and misappropriating funds for personal use (including a $160,000 horse).
- Kristoffer KrohnIndividualsA promoter (and SEC recidivist) who sold Green United's 'Green Boxes,' allegedly acting as an unregistered broker and misrepresenting GREEN's value and returns. Charged by the SEC for fraud and registration violations.
- John WiseIndividualsFounder and CEO of Loci, which ran the LOCIcoin ICO. The SEC charged him with fraud for false claims about Loci's revenue, staff, and user base (raising $7.6M) and for misusing $38K of investor funds; he settled with an officer/director bar.
This page was last updated on Jun 8, 2026. View revision history.