A UK High Court judge ruled that Chinese law should govern fraud victims' claims over 61,000 bitcoin seized from Zhimin Qian, according to multiple newswire reports. The ruling was first reported on 13 October 2026 at 09:03 UTC by Cointelegraph, and also reported by The Block, CoinDesk, Decrypt and The Defiant. The decision leaves ownership of the holding undecided and is described as a setback for the claimants. [1] [3] [5]

The story is labeled Unverified, meaning it is reported by an established outlet or several sources but not confirmed at the source. The reports come from CoinDesk, The Block, Decrypt, The Defiant, Cointelegraph and r/Bitcoin. The Block reported that a UK judge ruled Chinese law applies to victims' claims over 61,000 seized bitcoin, leaving ownership undecided. [1]

According to CoinDesk, the UK court decision boosts the government's chances of keeping $5 billion in seized bitcoin. The Defiant reported that the roughly $5.1 billion holding remains contested after victims lost their bid to rely on English law to establish ownership. These figures are as given by the claims. [2] [4]

Decrypt reported that a judge ruled Chinese law should govern fraud victims' claims to the 61,000 BTC seized from Zhimin Qian, in a blow to the claimants. Cointelegraph reported that Chinese fraud victims seeking to recover 61,000 seized Bitcoin face a legal setback after a UK court ruled that Chinese law governs their claims. [3] [5]

The ruling leaves ownership of the bitcoin undecided, according to The Block. The reports do not state a final outcome on who will ultimately own the seized bitcoin. The claims describe the decision as a setback for the claimants and a boost to the UK government's chances of keeping the bitcoin. [1] [2] [3]

What remains unconfirmed is the final ownership of the 61,000 bitcoin, as the ruling only addresses which law applies. The story is labeled Unverified, so the details have not been confirmed at the source. No further facts, figures or outcomes beyond those in the claims are stated here. [1] [4]