Gotbit (crypto market manipulation)
A prominent crypto 'market maker' that the U.S. DOJ says ran wash-trading/market-manipulation services (2018–2024) to fake trading volume for token clients (including Saitama and Robo Inu) and win exchange listings. Charged in the FBI's 'Operation Token Mirrors'; founder Aleksei Andriunin pleaded guilty in 2025 and Gotbit forfeited $23M.
Also known as: Gotbit, Gotbit Consulting
Summary
Gotbit was a crypto "market maker" that, per the U.S. DOJ, provided market-manipulation services from 2018 to 2024 — using coded software and many controlled accounts to "wash trade" and artificially inflate the price and volume of clients' tokens so they could get listed on platforms like CoinMarketCap and larger exchanges. Clients named by prosecutors included Robo Inu and Saitama. [1][2]
Charges and outcome
Gotbit and its founder were among 15 people and three firms charged in October 2024 in "Operation Token Mirrors" — a novel FBI operation that created its own token (NexFundAI) to catch crypto market manipulators. Founder Aleksei Andriunin was arrested in Portugal (October 2024), extradited, and pleaded guilty in March 2025 to conspiracy to commit market manipulation and wire fraud. In June 2025 he was sentenced to eight months (time served) and faced deportation; Gotbit forfeited about $23 million and ceased operations. [1][2]
Bracketed numbers refer to the numbered sources listed below.
People & entities involved
Sources (2)
- Gotbit Founder Sentenced for Crypto Wash Trading — Decrypt
- USA v. Gotbit — Plea Agreement — U.S. DOJ
See also
$MELANIA tokenMarket manipulationA Solana memecoin announced by Melania Trump on Jan 19, 2025. Per FT analysis, ~24 wallets bought in minutes before the public announcement and netted ~$99.6M as retail piled in; the token then fell 95%+. Early buys were traced to wallets linked to $LIBRA figure Hayden Davis. No charges have been filed.
$TRUMP tokenMarket manipulationA Solana memecoin launched days before Donald Trump's second inauguration (Jan 2025). Trump-linked entities hold 80% of supply and earned $320M+ in fees while ~760,000 mostly-retail wallets lost money; a 'dinner with the president' promotion for top holders drew conflict-of-interest scrutiny. The 'scam' label is contested and no charges have been filed.
This page was last updated on Jun 16, 2026. View revision history.