Mining Capital Coin
A purported crypto mining and trading platform (MCC) that the U.S. DOJ called a $62M global investment fraud. Prosecutors say founder Luiz Capuci Jr. sold 'Mining Packages' and 'Trading Bots' with guaranteed returns but diverted investor funds to wallets he controlled.
Also known as: Mining Capital Coin, MCC, Capital Coin, CPTLCoin
Note: Luiz Capuci Jr. is charged criminally and remains outside U.S. custody; the DOJ allegations have not been adjudicated. The SEC obtained a default judgment in a parallel civil case.
Summary
Mining Capital Coin (MCC) marketed itself as offering cryptocurrency "Mining Packages" backed by what it called the "biggest cryptocurrency mining operation in the world," along with its own token (Capital Coin) and "Trading Bots." In May 2022 the U.S. DOJ unsealed an indictment charging founder and CEO Luiz Capuci Jr. with running a $62 million global investment fraud. [1][2]
Mechanism
The DOJ alleges Capuci promised guaranteed weekly returns on mining packages and daily returns from trading bots, but did not actually mine cryptocurrency or run the bots as described — instead diverting investor funds to wallets he controlled and laundering proceeds through foreign exchanges. MCC also operated as a pyramid scheme, rewarding promoters for recruiting new investors. [1][2]
Charges and parallel case
Capuci was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, securities fraud, and international money laundering (a maximum of 45 years). In a parallel action, the SEC charged Capuci and co-founder Emerson Pires and, in 2025, obtained a default judgment of roughly $46 million against them. [1][2]
Bracketed numbers refer to the numbered sources listed below.
People & entities involved
- Luiz Capuci Jr.Founder & CEOIndividualsFounder and CEO of Mining Capital Coin (MCC). The U.S. DOJ indicted him in 2022 for an alleged $62M global crypto investment fraud built on 'Mining Packages' and 'Trading Bots'; the SEC won a default judgment against him in a parallel civil case.
- Emerson Sousa PiresCo-founderIndividualsCo-founder of Mining Capital Coin. The SEC charged him alongside Luiz Capuci Jr. over MCC's allegedly fraudulent mining-package sales and obtained a default judgment of roughly $46M against the pair in 2025.
Sources (2)
- Mining Capital Coin CEO accused of $62M investment fraud scheme — Cointelegraph
- Crypto Scheme Operators Ordered to Pay $46 Million in SEC Suit — Bloomberg Law
See also
- Bitcoin Latinum (LTNM)TokensA ~$16M token offering (SAFTs for 'Bitcoin Latinum' / LTNM) that the SEC charged in 2026 as fraud: founder Donald Basile falsely called LTNM 'the world's first insured digital asset' backed by an 'existing trust,' neither of which existed, and diverted investor funds for personal use (including a $160,000 horse).
- Loci (LOCIcoin)TokensA 2017–2018 ICO for 'LOCIcoin' tied to the InnVenn IP-search platform. The SEC charged Loci and CEO John Wise with fraud for raising $7.6M on false claims about revenue, headcount, and user base; Wise also misused investor funds. Settled with a $7.6M penalty and an officer/director bar.
- Blockchain Terminal (BCT)Tokens
This page was last updated on Jun 8, 2026. View revision history.