Minecraft-linked crypto kingpin faces 20 years in prison over $245 million heist

There are some weird and wonderful crime stories from the world of gaming, with Pokémon card heists, FBI hunts for leakers exposing the next Grand Theft Auto before its official release, and retro gamers reporting that decades' worth of collections have been burgled from their homes.

While many think of Minecraft as a simple blocky builder where our imaginations are our only limitation, it turns out Mojang Studios' game is a hotbed of crime for some.

Apparently, a 22-year-old Singaporean and Miami resident has been using Minecraft as more than a place to meet friends, forming a cybercrime gang from within, then using it to pull off a $245 million heist.

Who is Minecraft-linked crypto kingpin Malone Lam?

According to The Register, Malone Lam was the ringleader of a gang that attempted to rob wealthy individuals of their cryptocurrency between October 2023 and May 2025. It's said he first visited the USA to visit Jeandiel Serrano and Veer Chetal in 2023, with the pair being highlighted as two of the group's earliest members.

Lam's role grew to an important one as he tracked down high-net-worth crypto holders through scams and helped alleviate them of their hard-earned dollars via advanced methods of social engineering.