Audit log

Every state-changing event for MCC International Corp / CPTLCoin Corp / Bitchain Exchanges: moderation decisions on community submissions, plus corrections and updates from the news pipeline. URL-based decisions are designed to carry three independent witnesses — the original source, an Internet Archive snapshot, and a Solana memo signed by our publicly-disclosed publisher key. Archive coverage is still being backfilled, so each decision below reports its own snapshot status rather than assuming one exists.

1. #1publishby system:backfill

   2026-08-09 12:05:35Z
   Score: ? → ? (no score change)
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   {"actor":"system:backfill","investigation_id":"d895f38c-9d2e-4d20-b88d-23842b34b4c6","kind":"publish","page_slug":"mcc-international-corp-cptlcoin-corp-bitchain-exchanges","published_at":"2026-08-09T12:05:35.259Z","sequence_num":1,"snapshot":{"content_type":"investigation","entity_name":"MCC International Corp / CPTLCoin Corp / Bitchain Exchanges","sections":[{"content":"MCC International Corp., operating under the trade name Mining Capital Coin Corp. (MCC), was incorporated and based in Florida. Its co-founders were Luiz Carlos Capuci Jr. (also known as Junior Caputti or Capuci), a Port St. Lucie, Florida resident, and Emerson Sousa Pires. Capuci also controlled two additional entities that functioned as integral components of the scheme: CPTLCoin Corp., the issuer of the proprietary Capital Coin (CPTL) token, and Bitchain Exchanges, a purported cryptocurrency trading platform. According to the SEC's complaint, the defendants operated the three corporate entities in a coordinated manner, with Bitchain's undisclosed connection to Capuci serving as a critical mechanism for trapping investor funds.","heading":"Overview and Corporate Structure","severity":"critical","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"SEC Press Release: SEC Halts Fraudulent Cryptomining and Trading Scheme","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2022-81"},{"credibility":2,"name":"SEC v. Mining Capital Coin et al: Complaint (OffshoreAlert)","type":"court_filing","url":"https://www.offshorealert.com/sec-v-cptlcoin-et-al-complaint-crypto-based-investment-fraud/"}]},{"content":"Beginning at least in January 2018, MCC, Capuci, and Pires sold investment plans called 'mining packages' to 65,535 investors worldwide. Investors were promised daily returns of 1 percent, paid weekly, for a period of up to 52 weeks. Defendants falsely claimed these returns derived from a global network of cryptocurrency mining machines and from arbitrage trading and semi-automatic robotic trading bots claimed to execute 'thousands of trades per second.' In reality, according to the SEC complaint and DOJ indictment, investor funds were diverted to wallets under the defendants' personal control rather than deployed in any genuine mining or trading operation. The SEC alleges that defendants netted at least $8.1 million from mining package sales and $3.2 million in initiation fees from investors. The DOJ's parallel criminal case characterizes the total fraud at approximately $62 million.","heading":"The Mining Package Scheme","severity":"critical","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"SEC Press Release: SEC Halts Fraudulent Cryptomining and Trading Scheme","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2022-81"},{"credibility":1,"name":"DOJ: CEO of Mining Capital Coin Indicted in $62 Million Cryptocurrency Fraud Scheme","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/us-v-luis-capuci"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Decrypt: Department of Justice Indicts Crypto CEO for Alleged $62M Fraud Scheme","type":"news_article","url":"https://decrypt.co/99764/department-of-justice-indicts-crypto-ceo-for-alleged-62m-fraud-scheme"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Protos: Crypto mining boss faces 45 years in jail for alleged $62M pyramid scheme","type":"news_article","url":"https://protos.com/crypto-mining-boss-faces-45-years-in-jail-for-alleged-62m-pyramid-scheme/"}]},{"content":"A defining feature of the scheme was the systematic blockade of investor withdrawals. In the scheme's early phase, investors were promised returns in Bitcoin. Defendants later required investors to withdraw holdings exclusively in Capital Coin (CPTL), a proprietary token issued by CPTLCoin Corp. and marketed as 'stabilized by revenue from the biggest cryptocurrency mining operation in the world.' Investors were then directed to redeem CPTL solely on Bitchain Exchanges. According to the SEC complaint, Bitchain was a fake crypto asset trading platform created and managed by Capuci — a fact the defendants concealed from investors. When investors attempted to liquidate CPTL on Bitchain before their one-year membership period expired, they allegedly encountered deliberate system errors. The platform purportedly required investors either to purchase an additional mining package or to forfeit their investment entirely, generating additional fee income for the defendants while preventing net outflows.","heading":"Capital Coin Token and Bitchain Exchange: The Exit Trap","severity":"critical","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"SEC Press Release: SEC Halts Fraudulent Cryptomining and Trading Scheme","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2022-81"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Morrison Foerster: Top 5 SEC Enforcement Developments for August 2025","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.mofo.com/resources/insights/250929-top-5-sec-enforcement-developments-for-august-2025"},{"credibility":2,"name":"CoinGeek: US SEC, DoJ halt $62M Mining Capital Coin pyramid scheme","type":"news_article","url":"https://coingeek.com/us-sec-doj-halt-62m-mining-capital-coin-pyramid-scheme/"}]},{"content":"The SEC complaint and DOJ indictment both describe MCC as a multi-level marketing pyramid scheme. Capuci allegedly recruited a network of promoters and affiliates to sell mining packages, incentivizing recruitment through tangible luxury rewards including Apple Watches, iPads, Lamborghinis, Porsches, and Capuci's personal Ferrari. This affiliate layer enabled rapid expansion of the investor base across multiple countries while insulating the founders from direct sales activity. The MLM recruitment model meant that promoters had a financial incentive to continue recruiting new participants regardless of whether the underlying mining operations were genuine.","heading":"Multi-Level Marketing Structure","severity":"high","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"DOJ: CEO of Mining Capital Coin Indicted in $62 Million Cryptocurrency Fraud Scheme","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/us-v-luis-capuci"},{"credibility":1,"name":"CNN Business: Mining Capital Coin CEO indicted for allegedly running a cryptocurrency pyramid scheme","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/08/business/pyramid-scheme-mining-capital-coin/index.html"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Protos: Crypto mining boss faces 45 years in jail for alleged $62M pyramid scheme","type":"news_article","url":"https://protos.com/crypto-mining-boss-faces-45-years-in-jail-for-alleged-62m-pyramid-scheme/"}]},{"content":"Rather than deploying investor funds into cryptocurrency mining operations, the SEC alleges that Capuci and Pires funded lavish personal lifestyles. Documented purchases include Lamborghinis, at least one luxury yacht, and real estate. Approximately $11 million was allegedly diverted to Capuci's personal accounts. Funds were moved through foreign cryptocurrency exchanges in a manner the DOJ characterizes as international money laundering. The defendants' asset freeze in April 2022 covered these proceeds.","heading":"Use of Investor Funds","severity":"critical","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"SEC Press Release: SEC Halts Fraudulent Cryptomining and Trading Scheme","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2022-81"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Decrypt: Department of Justice Indicts Crypto CEO for Alleged $62M Fraud Scheme","type":"news_article","url":"https://decrypt.co/99764/department-of-justice-indicts-crypto-ceo-for-alleged-62m-fraud-scheme"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Protos: Crypto mining boss faces 45 years in jail for alleged $62M pyramid scheme","type":"news_article","url":"https://protos.com/crypto-mining-boss-faces-45-years-in-jail-for-alleged-62m-pyramid-scheme/"}]},{"content":"On April 21, 2022, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida (Case No. 2:22-cv-14129) issued a temporary restraining order against all defendants and froze their assets following an SEC complaint filed that same month. The SEC charged the defendants with violating the registration and anti-fraud provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Following the defendants' flight to Brazil and their subsequent default, a magistrate judge recommended disgorgement of approximately $28 million payable to harmed investors. On August 26, 2025, the court entered a combined $46 million default judgment against MCC International Corp., CPTLCoin Corp., Bitchain Exchanges, Luiz Carlos Capuci Jr., and Emerson Sousa Pires. The judgment encompassed approximately $28.5 million in disgorgement and approximately $7.8 million in prejudgment interest, with additional civil penalties comprising the remainder.","heading":"SEC Civil Enforcement Action","severity":"critical","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"SEC Press Release: SEC Halts Fraudulent Cryptomining and Trading Scheme (2022)","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2022-81"},{"credibility":1,"name":"CourtListener: United States SEC v. MCC International Corp., 2:22-cv-14129","type":"court_filing","url":"https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/63292018/united-states-securities-and-exchange-commission-v-mcc-international-corp/?page=2"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Morrison Foerster: Top 5 SEC Enforcement Developments for August 2025","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.mofo.com/resources/insights/250929-top-5-sec-enforcement-developments-for-august-2025"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Bloomberg Law: Crypto Scheme Merits $28 Million Disgorgement, Judge Recommends","type":"news_article","url":"https://news.bloomberglaw.com/securities-law/crypto-scheme-merits-28-million-disgorgement-magistrate-says"}]},{"content":"In May 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice unsealed a criminal indictment against Luiz Carlos Capuci Jr. under Case No. 22-20173-CR-Altonaga before Chief U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga in the Southern District of Florida. Capuci was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit securities fraud, and conspiracy to engage in international money laundering. If convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum sentence of 45 years imprisonment. As of the DOJ case page last updated October 2024, no plea or final verdict information was publicly available, with the page noting defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The DOJ case page indicates ongoing proceedings.","heading":"DOJ Criminal Indictment","severity":"critical","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"DOJ USAO-SDFL: US v. Luiz C. Capuci, Jr.","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/us-v-luis-capuci"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Decrypt: Department of Justice Indicts Crypto CEO for Alleged $62M Fraud Scheme","type":"news_article","url":"https://decrypt.co/99764/department-of-justice-indicts-crypto-ceo-for-alleged-62m-fraud-scheme"},{"credibility":2,"name":"CoinTelegraph: Mining Capital Coin CEO accused of $62M investment fraud scheme","type":"news_article","url":"https://cointelegraph.com/news/mining-capital-coin-ceo-accused-of-62m-investment-fraud-scheme"}]},{"content":"Following the April 2022 SEC complaint and asset freeze, both Capuci and Pires fled to Brazil. Capuci reportedly believed Brazil's policy of not extraditing its own citizens would shield him from U.S. prosecution. However, Brazilian authorities opened their own independent criminal investigation in August 2022 into allegations of money laundering involving sums up to R$300 million, encompassing alleged financial crimes committed in South Korea, the United States, Brazil, and other countries. On September 13, 2023, Brazil's Federal Police launched Operation Yang, mobilizing over 100 officers across 8 states (including DF, GO, SC, MS, PR, RS, SP, and ES), executing 25 search and seizure warrants, and issuing 2 arrest warrants. Emerson Pires was reported arrested at a rental property in Florianopolis. The status of Capuci's arrest was unconfirmed at the time of initial reporting. Brazilian authorities froze up to R$300 million in bank accounts, blocked 52 properties, and confiscated luxury goods, vehicles, jewelry, and electronics. U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the U.S. Embassy collaborated on the Brazilian operation.","heading":"Flight to Brazil and Brazilian Law Enforcement Action","severity":"critical","sources":[{"credibility":3,"name":"BehindMLM: Mining Capital Coin arrests and seizures in Brazil","type":"news_article","url":"https://behindmlm.com/companies/empiresx/mining-capital-coin-arrests-seizures-in-brazil/"},{"credibility":3,"name":"BehindMLM: Luiz Capuci Jr. upset SEC pursuing him in Brazil","type":"news_article","url":"https://behindmlm.com/companies/luiz-capuci-jr-upset-sec-pursuing-him-in-brazil/"}]},{"content":"The SEC's complaint alleges that MCC's mining packages constituted unregistered securities offerings in violation of Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933. The mining packages were sold to 65,535 investors across multiple countries without any registration statement being filed with the SEC. The investment contracts promised a fixed return of 1 percent daily, paid weekly, for up to 52 weeks — a structure that the SEC characterizes as an investment of money in a common enterprise with an expectation of profits from the efforts of others, meeting the Howey test for a security.","heading":"Unregistered Securities Offerings","severity":"high","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"SEC Press Release: SEC Halts Fraudulent Cryptomining and Trading Scheme","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2022-81"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Davis Wright Tremaine: SEC Announces Charges in Cryptomining and Trading Scheme","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.dwt.com/insights/2022/05/sec-announces-charges-in-cryptomining"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Crowdfund Insider: SEC Files Fraud Charges Against Cryptominer, Founders","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.crowdfundinsider.com/2022/05/190735-sec-files-fraud-charges-against-cryptominer-founders-alleges-unregistered-securities-offerings/"}]}],"sources_used":[{"credibility":1,"name":"SEC Press Release: SEC Halts Fraudulent Cryptomining and Trading Scheme","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2022-81"},{"credibility":1,"name":"DOJ USAO-SDFL: US v. Luiz C. Capuci, Jr.","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/us-v-luis-capuci"},{"credibility":1,"name":"CourtListener: United States SEC v. MCC International Corp., 2:22-cv-14129","type":"court_filing","url":"https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/63292018/united-states-securities-and-exchange-commission-v-mcc-international-corp/?page=2"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Bloomberg Law: Crypto Scheme Merits $28 Million Disgorgement, Judge Recommends","type":"news_article","url":"https://news.bloomberglaw.com/securities-law/crypto-scheme-merits-28-million-disgorgement-magistrate-says"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Morrison Foerster: Top 5 SEC Enforcement Developments for August 2025","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.mofo.com/resources/insights/250929-top-5-sec-enforcement-developments-for-august-2025"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Decrypt: Department of Justice Indicts Crypto CEO for Alleged $62M Fraud Scheme","type":"news_article","url":"https://decrypt.co/99764/department-of-justice-indicts-crypto-ceo-for-alleged-62m-fraud-scheme"},{"credibility":2,"name":"CoinTelegraph: Mining Capital Coin CEO accused of $62M investment fraud scheme","type":"news_article","url":"https://cointelegraph.com/news/mining-capital-coin-ceo-accused-of-62m-investment-fraud-scheme"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Protos: Crypto mining boss faces 45 years in jail for alleged $62M pyramid scheme","type":"news_article","url":"https://protos.com/crypto-mining-boss-faces-45-years-in-jail-for-alleged-62m-pyramid-scheme/"},{"credibility":1,"name":"CNN Business: Mining Capital Coin CEO indicted for allegedly running a cryptocurrency pyramid scheme","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/08/business/pyramid-scheme-mining-capital-coin/index.html"},{"credibility":2,"name":"CoinGeek: US SEC, DoJ halt $62M Mining Capital Coin pyramid scheme","type":"news_article","url":"https://coingeek.com/us-sec-doj-halt-62m-mining-capital-coin-pyramid-scheme/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Davis Wright Tremaine: SEC Announces Charges in Cryptomining and Trading Scheme","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.dwt.com/insights/2022/05/sec-announces-charges-in-cryptomining"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Crowdfund Insider: SEC Files Fraud Charges Against Cryptominer, Founders","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.crowdfundinsider.com/2022/05/190735-sec-files-fraud-charges-against-cryptominer-founders-alleges-unregistered-securities-offerings/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"OffshoreAlert: SEC v. Mining Capital Coin et al: Complaint","type":"court_filing","url":"https://www.offshorealert.com/sec-v-cptlcoin-et-al-complaint-crypto-based-investment-fraud/"},{"credibility":3,"name":"BehindMLM: Mining Capital Coin arrests and seizures in Brazil","type":"news_article","url":"https://behindmlm.com/companies/empiresx/mining-capital-coin-arrests-seizures-in-brazil/"},{"credibility":3,"name":"BehindMLM: Luiz Capuci Jr. upset SEC pursuing him in Brazil","type":"news_article","url":"https://behindmlm.com/companies/luiz-capuci-jr-upset-sec-pursuing-him-in-brazil/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"PYMNTS: Mining Capital Coin CEO Indicted in $62M Crypto Fraud Scheme","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.pymnts.com/news/security-and-risk/2022/mining-capital-coin-ceo-indicted-in-62m-crypto-fraud-scheme/"}],"summary":"MCC International Corp. (doing business as Mining Capital Coin), CPTLCoin Corp., and Bitchain Exchanges were collectively operated as a multi-level marketing cryptocurrency fraud scheme that defrauded 65,535 investors worldwide of an alleged $62 million between at least January 2018 and 2022. The SEC filed charges in April 2022 and secured a combined $46 million default judgment in August 2025; co-founders Luiz Carlos Capuci Jr. and Emerson Sousa Pires fled to Brazil and were arrested there by Brazilian Federal Police in September 2023 under a separate domestic money-laundering investigation.","timeline":[{"date":"2018-01-01","event":"MCC International Corp. (Mining Capital Coin) begins selling fraudulent mining packages to investors, promising 1% daily returns paid weekly.","source":"SEC complaint via SEC Press Release 2022-81","source_url":"https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2022-81"},{"date":"2022-04-21","event":"U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida issues a temporary restraining order against all defendants and freezes their assets at the SEC's request.","source":"SEC Press Release 2022-81","source_url":"https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2022-81"},{"date":"2022-05-06","event":"SEC publicly announces fraud charges against MCC International Corp., CPTLCoin Corp., Bitchain Exchanges, Luiz Carlos Capuci Jr., and Emerson Sousa Pires.","source":"SEC Press Release 2022-81","source_url":"https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2022-81"},{"date":"2022-05-08","event":"DOJ unseals criminal indictment against Luiz Carlos Capuci Jr. for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, securities fraud, and international money laundering in connection with the alleged $62 million scheme.","source":"Decrypt / DOJ USAO-SDFL","source_url":"https://decrypt.co/99764/department-of-justice-indicts-crypto-ceo-for-alleged-62m-fraud-scheme"},{"date":"2022-08-01","event":"Brazilian authorities open an independent criminal investigation into MCC founders for alleged money laundering of up to R$300 million.","source":"BehindMLM: Mining Capital Coin arrests and seizures in Brazil","source_url":"https://behindmlm.com/companies/empiresx/mining-capital-coin-arrests-seizures-in-brazil/"},{"date":"2023-09-13","event":"Brazil's Federal Police launch Operation Yang, executing 25 search and seizure warrants across 8 states; Emerson Pires is reported arrested in Florianopolis; R$300 million in bank accounts frozen and 52 properties blocked.","source":"BehindMLM: Mining Capital Coin arrests and seizures in Brazil","source_url":"https://behindmlm.com/companies/empiresx/mining-capital-coin-arrests-seizures-in-brazil/"},{"date":"2025-08-26","event":"U.S. District Court enters a combined $46 million default judgment against MCC International Corp., CPTLCoin Corp., Bitchain Exchanges, Capuci, and Pires, comprising approximately $28.5 million in disgorgement and $7.8 million in prejudgment interest.","source":"Morrison Foerster: Top 5 SEC Enforcement Developments for August 2025","source_url":"https://www.mofo.com/resources/insights/250929-top-5-sec-enforcement-developments-for-august-2025"}]},"v":1}

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