Rodney Burton, known online as Bitcoin Rodney, pleaded guilty on June 15, 2026, to conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business. The charge stems from his central role promoting HyperFund, a platform that allegedly defrauded investors of approximately $1.89 billion.
Burton entered his plea in US District Court in Maryland. Sentencing is scheduled for July 23, 2026.
HyperFund promised daily passive returns backed by cryptocurrency mining operations that did not exist. Operating under various names including HyperVerse and HyperCapital, the scheme utilized multi-level marketing tactics to drive recruitment before blocking withdrawals in July 2021.
While co-founder Sam Lee remains at large, prosecutors allege Burton leveraged his influencer persona to funnel capital into the fraud. Despite claims of acting in good faith, authorities state he used illicit proceeds to purchase luxury condominiums, vehicles, and a yacht.
This case represents one of the largest crypto fraud prosecutions in US history. Burton’s conviction establishes significant criminal liability for promoters of fraudulent digital asset schemes, regardless of their direct involvement in the underlying financial architecture.