Crypto Criminals: Flexing Their Way to Justice, One Wallet at a Time!

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Key Highlights

  • ZachXBT has traced a wallet stuffed with approximately $23 million, allegedly linked to some very bad U.S. government behavior in the crypto world.
  • This revelation came after a hacker thought it would be a great idea to “flex” their riches in a leaked recording-because who wouldn’t want to show off their stolen goods?
  • On-chain data indicates that this wallet is not just a pretty face; total inflows are rumored to exceed a whopping $90 million from 2024 to 2025. Talk about a lucrative hobby!

In a plot twist worthy of a mediocre thriller novel, crypto investigator ZachXBT uncovered a network of wallets tied to what they allege are the spoils of U.S. government theft. This discovery followed some rather unfortunate leaked recordings where our thief, let’s call him “John,” boasted about his wallet balances during a heated argument with another hacker. Nothing says “I’m innocent” like waving around a virtual wallet filled with ill-gotten gains, right?

1/ Meet the illustrious threat actor John (Lick), who casually showcased $23M in a wallet connected to over $90M in suspected U.S. government thefts and other victims from late 2025. A real champ!

– ZachXBT (@zachxbt) January 23, 2026

The Great Flex Fiasco

So, there’s John, strutting around like a peacock in a private chat, displaying roughly $23 million in crypto during a recorded spat about who’s the bigger hacker. The whole exchange was likened to a “band for band” contest-only instead of music, it was just a cacophony of digital theft.

According to ZachXBT, these recordings aren’t just entertaining; they’re also the equivalent of leaving a trail of breadcrumbs for investigators. Apparently, John had multiple wallets, including Ethereum and Tron, all funneling money into a single address. It’s almost as if he wanted to be caught.

Tracing Funds Back to Uncle Sam

After enjoying some leisurely eavesdropping, ZachXBT began tracing the wallet’s inflows back to a U.S. government-linked address that had received nearly $25 million in March 2024. Yes, you read that right-$25 million! All tied to seized crypto from earlier cases. Just when you thought the government was good at hiding their assets, along comes John with a neon sign pointing directly at the cash.

In one particularly entertaining instance, over 4,000 ETH (worth about $12 million at the time) made its way from a centralized exchange to John’s wallet. Because why not further link yourself to the crime while you’re at it?

Why This Case is a Criminal’s Worst Nightmare

What makes this case so uniquely ridiculous isn’t merely the staggering amounts of money involved; it’s the audacity behind it. Instead of maintaining a low profile, John decided to flaunt his wallet on video, essentially handing investigators a cheat sheet. As ZachXBT noted, that type of evidence is usually as elusive as a cat in a dog park.

After the public thread went live, John apparently attempted to erase any trace of his online presence, furiously scrubbing usernames and identifiers from his Telegram account. Classic move, buddy!

Update: John quickly removed all of the NFT usernames from his Telegram account and changed his screenname after my post. You know, just in case!

– ZachXBT (@zachxbt) January 23, 2026

So, here we are, with the blockchain standing as a permanent witness to John’s extravagant display of wealth. This entire saga serves as a gentle reminder that showing off your illicit gains isn’t likely to end well. While rumors swirl that law enforcement may have taken an interest in our flashy friend, ZachXBT emphasizes that more verification is still needed. But let’s be honest, it’s hard to hide when your wallet is practically screaming your name.

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2026-01-23 23:52