{"id":32602,"date":"2026-06-22T06:30:33","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T06:30:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bitunikey.com\/news\/fentanyl-linked-crypto-fraud-tied-to-fake-zksync-jp-token-nikkei\/"},"modified":"2026-06-22T06:30:43","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T06:30:43","slug":"fentanyl-linked-crypto-fraud-tied-to-fake-zksync-jp-token-nikkei","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bitunikey.com\/news\/fentanyl-linked-crypto-fraud-tied-to-fake-zksync-jp-token-nikkei\/","title":{"rendered":"Fentanyl-linked crypto fraud tied to fake Zksync.jp token: Nikkei"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-detail__content blocks\">\n<p class=\"is-style-lead\">A Chinese network suspected of exporting fentanyl precursor chemicals was also linked to a large crypto fraud operated through Japan, according to a Nikkei investigation.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div id=\"cn-block-summary-block_ceeb0f2366e0bee597d93af72a77d6db\" class=\"cn-block-summary\">\n<div class=\"cn-block-summary__nav tabs\">\n        <span class=\"tabs__item is-selected\">Summary<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n<div class=\"cn-block-summary__content\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Nikkei tied a fentanyl-linked Chinese network to Japan-based crypto fraud using a fake Zksync.jp token.<\/li>\n<li>The alleged scheme used Japanese domains to gain trust and deceive crypto users worldwide online.<\/li>\n<li>Blockchain trails reportedly showed more than 120 transactions involving U.S.-sanctioned entities linked to drug networks.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- .cn-block-summary --><\/p>\n<p>The <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/asia.nikkei.com\/economy\/trade-war\/fentanyl-s-hidden-routes\/chinese-fentanyl-network-suspected-of-crypto-fraud-via-japan-base\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">report said<\/a> the group used Japanese internet domains and a fake \u201cZksync.jp\u201d token to deceive crypto users worldwide.<\/p>\n<p>Nikkei said losses reached hundreds of millions of yen, or more than $1 million. The token name appeared to copy ZKsync, a legitimate Ethereum Layer 2 network built by Matter Labs. There is no apparent connection between ZKsync and the alleged fraud.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Chinese fentanyl network suspected of crypto fraud via Japan base <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/XuwAwj6LiJ\">https:\/\/t.co\/XuwAwj6LiJ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Nikkei Asia (@NikkeiAsia) <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/NikkeiAsia\/status\/2068742038711861336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 21, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>    <!-- .cn-block-related-link --><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Japan base tied to Amarvel network<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The report placed Hubei Amarvel Biotech, a Wuhan-based chemical company, at the center of the network. In 2025, two Amarvel executives were cleared of a top fentanyl charge but <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bellingcat.com\/news\/2025\/08\/07\/a-chinese-fentanyl-smuggling-networks-footprints-in-japan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">convicted<\/a> of conspiring to import a fentanyl precursor chemical and conspiring to launder money.<\/p>\n<p>Nikkei said a Nagoya-based company called Firsky served as a Japanese front for the network. The report <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/asia.nikkei.com\/economy\/trade-war\/fentanyl-s-hidden-routes\/the-japan-boss-at-the-center-of-a-fentanyl-web\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">identified<\/a> a Chinese national, Xia Fengzhi, as a person linked to logistics and funds from Japan. Firsky was liquidated in July 2024, and Xia\u2019s current location remains unknown.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Blockchain trails point to sanctioned entities<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Using wallet addresses disclosed in U.S. court evidence, Nikkei mapped fund flows tied to Amarvel and its Japan-linked base. The report said more than 120 crypto transactions connected the network to entities under U.S. sanctions. It described the pattern as evidence of money laundering, though the findings remain based on on-chain tracing and court-linked data.<\/p>\n<p>Those transactions were reportedly clustered around parties linked to Wuhan Yuancheng Group. The group has been tied in U.S. actions to Chuen Fat Yip, a Chinese national accused by U.S. authorities of leading a transnational drug operation. The State Department has offered a $5 million reward for information leading to his arrest.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Japanese domains gave the scam credibility<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The alleged \u201cZksync.jp\u201d token used a Japanese domain suffix, which normally requires a registrant with a Japanese address. Nikkei said the domain registrant appeared to be a Chinese national in Hong Kong with close financial links to Amarvel.<\/p>\n<p>Chainalysis <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chainalysis.com\/blog\/cryptocurrency-fentanyl-disruption\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">told<\/a> Nikkei that Japanese domains can make fraud sites appear more credible to users abroad. This fits a wider pattern in which criminal groups use trusted jurisdictions, familiar project names and blockchain transfers to move funds across borders.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Crypto crime scrutiny grows in Japan<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The case comes as Japan works to expand its regulated crypto market. As previously reported by crypto.news, Japan\u2019s lower house passed a bill to reclassify crypto under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, while a linked tax plan targets a 20% rate in 2028.<\/p>\n<p>The timing creates a difficult backdrop for regulators. Japan is trying to attract regulated crypto activity, but Nikkei\u2019s findings show how criminal networks can also use Japanese infrastructure to create trust. The DEA also signed a memorandum with the Japan Coast Guard in May to strengthen enforcement against fentanyl smuggling.<\/p>\n<p>TRM Labs has <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.trmlabs.com\/resources\/blog\/beyond-drug-trafficking-chinese-fentanyl-suppliers-terrorism-financing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">reported<\/a> that 97% of 120 Chinese precursor manufacturers it studied accepted crypto, while wallets linked to those manufacturers received more than $26 million in 2023. The Nikkei case adds a Japan-linked fraud layer to that wider use of crypto in synthetic drug supply chains.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- .cn-block-related-link --><\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A Chinese network suspected of exporting fentanyl precursor chemicals was also linked to a large crypto fraud operated through Japan, according to a Nikkei investigation.\u00a0 Summary Nikkei tied a fentanyl-linked&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":32603,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32602","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cryptocurrency"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bitunikey.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32602","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bitunikey.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bitunikey.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bitunikey.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bitunikey.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32602"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/bitunikey.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32602\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32604,"href":"https:\/\/bitunikey.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32602\/revisions\/32604"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bitunikey.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32603"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bitunikey.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32602"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bitunikey.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32602"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bitunikey.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32602"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}