Pokemon Crypto News: Hacker Spends $3M on Rare Cards

In a strange Pokemon crypto crossover, a cybersecurity consultant and avid collector has been convicted in the US of a cryptocurrency theft worth almost $55M, with prosecutors saying some of the stolen funds were used to build a multimillion-dollar collection of rare trading cards.

Jonathan Spalletta, 36, was found guilty by a New York federal jury on Wednesday of computer fraud and money laundering following a six-day trial. The case centered on two attacks against the decentralized crypto exchange Uranium Finance in April 2021, which ultimately forced the platform to shut down.

Pokemon Crypto News: Authorities Seized $3M in Rare Trading Cards Along With $31M in Digital Assets

US authorities seized more than $3M in rare Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering cards from Spalletta’s Maryland home, along with about $31M in cryptocurrency. According to the US Department of Justice, some of the Pokémon purchases were among the most valuable items in his collection.

Among them was a sealed box of first-edition Pokémon booster packs purchased for approximately $257,500. Prosecutors also said Spalletta bought a complete first-edition Pokémon Base Set for around $750,000.

The purchases formed part of a wider collection of high-value collectibles allegedly acquired with cryptocurrency stolen from Uranium Finance.