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Do Kwon to Plead Guilty to Conspiracy, Fraud Charges in U.S. Case

After a years-long cat-and-mouse game, Kwon is finally pleading guilty to charges related to the Terra collapse.
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Aug 12, 20251 min read

Terraform Labs co-founder Do Kwon will plead guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy to defraud, closing a years-long criminal case tied to the implosion of the TerraUSD algorithmic stablecoin.

What’s the Scoop?

  • Guilty Plea Incoming: Court filings indicated Kwon would change his plea and waive trial, admitting to wire fraud and conspiracy charges.
  • Potential Sentence: The 33-year-old could face up to 25 years in prison.
  • TerraUSD Collapse: The algorithmic stablecoin and its sister token LUNA unraveled in 2022, erasing tens of billions in value and triggering a wider crypto market crash.
  • Long Legal Road: Kwon was arrested in Montenegro in March 2023 for traveling with forged documents, extradited to the U.S. in December, and initially pleaded not guilty earlier this year.
  • Civil Liability: In April, a jury found Kwon and Terraform liable for civil fraud in a separate SEC case, ruling they misled investors about the stability and structure of their products.

Bankless Take:

Kwon’s impending guilty plea marks the final act in one of crypto’s most notorious sagas. The shockwaves from Terra/Luna’s collapse reverberated throughout the brutal years-long crypto bear market that followed, and the industry is ready to put this ugly chapter behind itself.

Not financial or tax advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. This newsletter is not tax advice. Talk to your accountant. Do your own research.

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