HyperFund / Rodney 'Bitcoin Rodney' Burton
Last changed 2026-10-27 · Score recalculated — Rescored under Scoring v2, the published formula (avoid.net/scoring): 2 → 0. The page establishes that the subject is itself a scheme, so the score is 0. Version history →
Why this score
| Every page starts at | 65 |
| The subject's own conduct | -223 |
| Sum | -158 |
- The page establishes that the subject is itself a scheme, so the score is 0.
Score: 0/100 (kept between 0 and 100)
How scoring works →Summary
HyperFund (also marketed as HyperVerse, HyperCapital, HyperTech, and HyperNation) was a global cryptocurrency investment scheme that allegedly raised approximately $1.89 billion from investors worldwide between June 2020 and November 2022 through fraudulent promises of daily passive returns backed by nonexistent crypto mining operations. The U.S. Department of Justice and SEC filed criminal and civil charges in January 2024 against co-founder Xue 'Sam' Lee and two key promoters, including Rodney 'Bitcoin Rodney' Burton, a Miami-based influencer who pleaded guilty on June 15, 2026 to conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business and personally received over $7.8 million in proceeds.
Connected Entities
5 entities · 60 linked investigations- HyperFund / Rodney 'Bitcoin Rodney' Burton→mentioned with→Bitcoin(70%)
- Rodney Burton (Bitcoin Rodney)→mentioned with→Bitcoin(65%)
- HyperFund / HyperVerse→mentioned with→HyperFund / Rodney 'Bitcoin Rodney' Burton(75%)
- HyperFund / Rodney 'Bitcoin Rodney' Burton→mentioned with→HyperFund / HyperVerse(75%)
- HyperFund / HyperVerse→mentioned with→Xue Sam Lee (HyperFund Co-Founder)(80%)
- HyperFund / Rodney 'Bitcoin Rodney' Burton→mentioned with→Xue Sam Lee (HyperFund Co-Founder)(80%)
- Rodney Burton (Bitcoin Rodney)→mentioned with→HyperFund / HyperVerse(60%)
- Rodney Burton (Bitcoin Rodney)→mentioned with→Xue Sam Lee (HyperFund Co-Founder)(80%)
- Xue Sam Lee (HyperFund Co-Founder)→mentioned with→Rodney Burton (Bitcoin Rodney)(80%)
- Xue Sam Lee (HyperFund Co-Founder)→mentioned with→HyperFund / HyperVerse(75%)
- + 4 more
Connected Through
5 shared actors · 436 investigationsDistinct actors this investigation shares with others — holders, traders, and named parties. Shared infrastructure (exchanges, pools) is excluded.
- ♦Bitcointoken
- □HyperFund / HyperVerseorganization
- ♦Rodney Burton (Bitcoin Rodney)token
- □Xue Sam Lee (HyperFund Co-Founder)organization
Timeline(11 events)
June 2020
HyperFund launches, co-founded by Sam Lee and Ryan Xu, promising investors daily passive returns of 0.5% to 1% from alleged cryptocurrency mining operations.
DOJ Criminal Division: HyperFund and Associated CasesJuly 2021
HyperFund begins blocking investor withdrawals, preventing participants from accessing funds.
DOJ Criminal Division: HyperFund and Associated CasesNovember 2021
HyperFund rebrands to HyperVerse and introduces fictitious CEO 'Steven Reece Lewis,' a role played by a paid actor.
CoinDesk: HyperVerse's Alleged Ponzi Scheme Raked in Nearly $2B, Hired Actor as Fake CEO2022
Nepal's central bank issues public advisory warning citizens to avoid HyperVerse and similar high-return crypto products.
TechTimes: HyperVerse Scheme — Massive Losses Due to Crypto Scam Spark Regulatory ConcernsNovember 2022
HyperFund/HyperVerse scheme ceases operation. Chainalysis later ranks HyperVerse as the largest cryptocurrency scam of 2022, with initial loss estimates of $1.3 billion.
HyperVerse Wikipedia / Chainalysis 2022 Crypto Scam Report29 January 2024
DOJ unseals criminal indictment against Sam Lee, Rodney Burton, and Brenda Chunga. SEC simultaneously files civil complaint against Sam Lee and Brenda Chunga for $1.7 billion crypto pyramid scheme.
DOJ Office of Public Affairs: Three Individuals Charged for Roles in $1.89B Cryptocurrency Fraud SchemeNovember 2024
Sam Lee voluntarily surrenders to Dubai authorities following an Interpol Red Notice and is detained at Al Aweer Central Prison for approximately 60 days before release.
Business For Home: HyperFund Co-Founder Sam Lee Arrested In Dubai For $1.8 Billion Fraud2025
Superseding indictment filed against Rodney Burton, expanding charges to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, two counts of wire fraud, seven counts of money laundering, and one count of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business.
DOJ District of Maryland: Miami Man Indicted on Federal Wire-Fraud Conspiracy Charges15 June 2026
Rodney 'Bitcoin Rodney' Burton pleads guilty in U.S. District Court in Maryland to conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business, admitting to receiving at least $7,851,711 in proceeds.
DOJ District of Maryland: Miami Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy Charge Connected to Cryptocurrency Fraud Scheme23 July 2026
Rodney Burton sentencing scheduled before U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett. Maximum exposure: five years federal prison.
DOJ Criminal Division: HyperFund and Associated Cases7 January 2027
Brenda 'Bitcoin Beautee' Chunga sentencing scheduled (rescheduled from June 29, 2026). Maximum exposure: five years federal prison.
DOJ Criminal Division: HyperFund and Associated CasesDecision Log
- slot 461964344 · hash 3MUai9seFC6u37Um44SaWf2pJP7kpo2iQ1hitWhfnyrH
- slot 445506935 · hash 9iMqpaiAZvxdQbKDHtGWLnVNtdTc1DDvisstaY6LqNuJ
- slot 443505295 · hash FR388ZA6AgRYmh54uhv2q7UwAi3bjdskC54o12S6Sy2b
- slot 443505291 · hash KLzqcbgp2JSKURkxgCBLEKLrgvUy1KX84xb7uWy4A3L
- slot 429234615 · hash CkZB1cRxES1v3F65wtjcTKeJcC34N4X2CAJzV4fWv7rq
This investigation is cryptographically anchored to the Solana blockchain (5 decisions). 19 of 22 cited source URLs have an Internet Archive snapshot.
model: claude-sonnet-4-6
generated: 6/27/2026, 12:14:16 PM
last updated: 10/27/2026, 6:04:36 AM
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