Rodney Burton, known online as “Bitcoin Rodney,” has pleaded guilty in a U.S. federal court to conspiracy for operating an unlicensed money transmission business. The case, prosecutors say, is tied to a global crypto fraud scheme that moved a massive $1.8 billion, sending shockwaves through the investor community and raising fresh questions for the digital asset sector.
Plea deal in the HyperFund investigation
Court documents filed in Baltimore reveal that Burton, 56, resides in Miami but also has ties to Prince George’s County, Maryland. Prosecutors allege that Burton acted as a promoter for the crypto platform HyperFund, which in reality operated as a sprawling, international scheme designed to defraud investors across the globe.
Court filings confirm that between June 2020 and January 2022, Burton was actively involved in running and supporting unlicensed money transmission services for HyperFund, earning substantial profits during this period.
Official records show that HyperFund positioned itself as a legitimate crypto investment opportunity, luring in members by promising daily returns of 0.5% to 1%. The scheme touted the prospect of doubling or even tripling investors’ initial capital, fueling a wave of enthusiasm that drew in participants worldwide.
Pledged profits and frozen withdrawals
According to the prosecution, HyperFund claimed that its payouts were backed, at least in part, by revenue generated from large-scale crypto mining operations. However, investigators uncovered that these mining activities never actually existed. By 2021, the platform began freezing investors’ withdrawals entirely, leaving many unable to access their funds.
Authorities noted that Burton managed a network of companies purportedly offering consulting services, but which functioned in reality as unlicensed channels for transferring money. Prosecutors say investor funds were funneled through this network and circulated within the system.
Over $7.8 million in profits and sentencing ahead
Court records indicate that Burton personally profited by more than $7.8 million from this dark enterprise. Prosecutors flagged that a portion of this money originated from Maryland-based victims, underscoring the far-reaching impact of the scam.
Burton now faces a potential sentence of up to five years in prison. His sentencing hearing is set for July 23 before U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina A. Hoffman handling the case.
Celebrity endorsements fueled the platform
As reported by Rolling Stone, Burton significantly boosted HyperFund’s public profile through connections with celebrities. Notably, actor Jamie Foxx and rapper Rick Ross played roles in expanding Burton’s reach and media visibility, lending an air of legitimacy to the platform’s operations.
The magazine further revealed that Burton organized a major crypto conference in Miami in 2021. That event attracted prominent names including investor Draymond Green, “Wolf of Wall Street” author Jordan Belfort, musician Akon, and comedian Tiffany Haddish, underscoring the scale of Burton’s promotional efforts and the high-profile nature of HyperFund’s marketing machine.
