Xue Sam Lee (HyperFund Co-Founder)
Last changed 2026-10-27 · Score recalculated — Rescored under Scoring v2, the published formula (avoid.net/scoring): 2 → 0. Problems weighed by who is responsible: the subject's own conduct −115, concerns that are not fraud −6; legitimacy credit long-running +10. Version history →
Why this score
| Every page starts at | 65 |
| The subject's own conduct | -115 |
| Concerns that are not fraud | -6 |
| Long-running | +10 |
| Sum | -46 |
Score: 0/100 (kept between 0 and 100)
How scoring works →Summary
Xue 'Sam' Lee, an Australian citizen residing in Dubai, is the alleged co-founder of HyperFund (also marketed as HyperVerse, HyperTech, HyperCapital, and HyperNation), a cryptocurrency investment scheme that U.S. authorities allege defrauded investors of approximately $1.89 billion between June 2020 and November 2022. In January 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice unsealed a criminal indictment and the SEC filed parallel civil charges against Lee for conspiracy to commit securities fraud and wire fraud. Lee was detained in Dubai in October 2024 following an Interpol Red Notice but, as of June 2026, has not been extradited to the United States and maintains his innocence.
Connected Entities
4 entities · 60 linked investigations- Rodney Burton (Bitcoin Rodney)→mentioned with→Bitcoin(65%)
- HyperFund / HyperVerse→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%)
- HyperFund / HyperVerse→mentioned with→Bitcoin(70%)
- HyperFund / HyperVerse→mentioned with→Rodney Burton (Bitcoin Rodney)(75%)
- Xue Sam Lee (HyperFund Co-Founder)→mentioned with→Bitcoin(70%)
Connected Through
4 shared actors · 435 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(15 events)
2014
Sam Lee and Ryan Xu co-found Bitcoin Group in Australia, later rebranded as Blockchain Global in 2016.
Blockchain Global — WikipediaJune 2020
HyperFund launches, offering investors 0.5%–1% daily returns allegedly backed by crypto mining operations.
DOJ: HyperFund and Associated CasesJuly 2021
HyperFund begins blocking investor withdrawal requests, according to DOJ court filings.
DOJ: HyperFund and Associated CasesOctober 2021
Blockchain Global enters voluntary administration in Australia owing creditors approximately AUD $58 million.
ASIC Probes Crypto Firm Blockchain Global CollapseDecember 2021
HyperFund rebrands as HyperVerse at a global launch event. A fictional CEO 'Steven Reece Lewis,' portrayed by British actor Stephen Harrison, is presented to investors.
CoinDesk: HyperVerse's Alleged Ponzi Scheme Raked in Nearly $2B, Hired Actor as Fake CEOMay 2022
HyperVerse rebrands again as HyperNation as the scheme nears collapse.
Hypertech Group Historical Timeline — dehek.comNovember 2022
HyperFund/HyperVerse scheme effectively collapses; investor withdrawals fully halted.
DOJ: HyperFund and Associated Cases2023
Chainalysis publishes 2022 crypto scam report ranking HyperVerse as the largest cryptocurrency scam of 2022 with approximately $1.3 billion in investor losses.
Chainalysis: Crypto Scam Revenue Dropped 46% in 202229 January 2024
DOJ unseals criminal indictment against Sam Lee (Case No. 24-CR-21) and SEC files parallel civil fraud complaint; Brenda Chunga simultaneously enters a guilty plea.
CNBC: DOJ and SEC unveil charges in $1.9 billion HyperFund cryptocurrency fraudOctober 2024
UAE authorities detain Sam Lee at Dubai's Al Aweer Central Prison following an Interpol Red Notice.
BusinessForHome: HyperFund Co-Founder Sam Lee Arrested In Dubai For $1.8 Billion Fraud5 November 2024
SEC successfully serves Lee with the civil fraud complaint while he is imprisoned in Dubai.
SEC Litigation Release LR-25933December 2024
Lee is released from Dubai detention after approximately 60 days; extradition to the U.S. does not occur due to the absence of a U.S.-UAE extradition treaty.
99Bitcoins: Who is Sam Lee Crypto? Where is Crypto Billions Fraudster Now?10 March 2025
Bloomberg publishes a video interview with Lee in which he denies the charges and claims any misuse of funds was conducted by others.
Bloomberg: Dubai's Billion-Dollar Crypto UnderworldOctober 2025
An Australian federal court bars Ryan Xu from leaving Australia until December 20, 2025, following ASIC proceedings related to Blockchain Global.
ASIC Probes Crypto Firm Blockchain Global Collapse15 June 2026
Co-promoter Rodney Burton ('Bitcoin Rodney') pleads guilty to conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business in U.S. District Court in Maryland; sentencing set for July 23, 2026.
Crypto Briefing: Florida man Rodney Burton pleads guilty in $1.89B HyperFund crypto fraud schemeDecision Log
- slot 461964139 · hash 3XzBvraKJRrhY1kEzx6Aj5BP3ZJUMdU63mFJCDphBk4M
- slot 427331640 · hash HZksysNTbjTofW1Uz9ypX1QJG16moMzY2shtV4m9CcfP
This investigation is cryptographically anchored to the Solana blockchain (2 decisions). 15 of 15 cited source URLs have an Internet Archive snapshot.
model: claude-sonnet-4-6
generated: 6/18/2026, 5:16:53 PM
last updated: 10/27/2026, 6:04:24 AM
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