Cảnh báo lừa đảo tài sản mã hóa từ vụ dự án ‘đồng tiền số Antex’ | VTV24

Key Concepts

• Tài sản mã hóa (Crypto Assets): Digital or virtual assets secured by cryptography, typically using blockchain technology.
• Tiền số/Tiền ảo (Cryptocurrency/Virtual Currency): A type of crypto asset that functions as a medium of exchange.
• Antex: A specific cryptocurrency project discussed in the transcript.
• VNDT: A related cryptocurrency project and digital wallet mentioned.
• USDT: A stablecoin, often used as a bridge between fiat and cryptocurrencies.
• NFT (Non-Fungible Token): A unique digital asset that cannot be replicated, often used in digital art and collectibles.
• Metaverse: A persistent, online 3D universe that combines multiple different virtual spaces.
• Blockchain: A distributed, immutable ledger that records transactions across many computers.
• Sàn phi tập trung (Decentralized Exchange - DEX): A cryptocurrency exchange that operates without a central authority, allowing peer-to-peer trading.
• Sàn tập trung (Centralized Exchange - CEX): A cryptocurrency exchange that is operated by a company and acts as an intermediary for trades.
• Rút thảm (Rug Pull): A scam in the cryptocurrency space where developers abandon a project and run away with investors' funds.
• Bơm giá/Thổi giá (Pump and Dump): A scheme to artificially inflate the price of an asset through misleading positive statements, followed by selling the asset at a higher price.
• Luật Hình sự (Criminal Code): The body of law that defines criminal offenses and their punishments.
• Nghị định 101/2012/NĐ-CP: A Vietnamese decree on non-cash payments, which prohibits the use of virtual currency as legal tender or a payment method.
• Nghị quyết 05/2025/NQ-CP: A Vietnamese resolution on piloting the crypto asset market, establishing a legal framework for regulated trading.
• Tội phạm công nghệ cao (High-tech Crime): Criminal activities conducted using computers and telecommunications.
• Rửa tiền (Money Laundering): The process of making illegally obtained funds appear to have come from a legitimate source.
• Tài trợ khủng bố (Terrorist Financing): The provision of funds or financial support to terrorists or terrorist organizations.
• Phân bổ và quản trị rủi ro cá nhân (Personal Risk Allocation and Management): Strategies for individuals to manage the risks associated with investments.

Summary of the YouTube Video Transcript

This transcript discusses the growing concern around crypto assets, virtual currencies, and digital money, particularly in light of the arrest of Shark Bình (Nguyễn Hòa Bình) and nine accomplices in a case involving the Antex cryptocurrency.

The Antex Case: A Detailed Breakdown

• Project Genesis: In May 2021, Nguyễn Hòa Bình and others developed the Antex cryptocurrency project with the stated goal of attracting investors to fund the development of the VNDT cryptocurrency and VNDT digital wallet.
• Deception and Misappropriation: In reality, the project's development was incomplete. Nguyễn Hòa Bình and other shareholders of Next Ntech allegedly agreed to withdraw funds from the Antex project's master wallet. These funds were then transferred to personal digital wallets within the project, converted to Vietnamese Dong, and either divided among themselves or used for purposes other than the stated project goals.
• Investor Exploitation: Between August and November 2021, the perpetrators issued and sold 33.2 billion VND worth of Antex tokens to approximately 30,000 investors. This generated 4.5 million USDT, equivalent to about 117 billion VND.
• Investor Red Flags: Even before official action, many investors voiced accusations of fraud against the Antex project and its management. They reported continuous token dumping immediately after the cryptocurrency was listed.
• Market Collapse: Data from Coin Market Card indicates that Antex tokens reached a peak of $0.2529 per unit on their first day of trading. However, this value was short-lived, and by 2022, the token had lost 99% of its value. Investors were left in a state of panic due to significant losses, while the project's official website and social media channels ceased operations. Hundreds of billions of VND belonging to thousands of investors were lost.
• Current Status: As of the transcript's recording, the perpetrators have only offered promises to rectify the situation. Nguyễn Hòa Bình himself acknowledged his wrongdoing during investigations and committed to compensating affected investors.

The "Bottomless Box" Analogy for Fraudulent Schemes

The transcript uses a simple analogy to explain the modus operandi of such fraudulent schemes:

1. Investor Investment: Investors deposit their money into what they believe is a secure and profitable venture (represented by a box).
2. The Illusion of Security: Investors expect their assets to grow and be safe.
3. The Reality of Deception: In reality, the "box" is "bottomless." The perpetrators secretly withdraw the capital, leaving behind an empty shell.

Legal Framework and Enforcement in Vietnam

• Legal Provisions Against Fraud: Mr. Đặng Văn Cường, from the Hanoi Bar Association, explains that fraud and asset appropriation are defined as using deceitful means to seize another person's property. This involves providing false information to mislead victims into transferring funds, which are then misappropriated.
• Criminal Penalties: Under Article 174 of the Criminal Code, individuals who appropriate assets valued at 2 million VND or more, or less than 2 million VND under specific circumstances (e.g., prior administrative penalties, previous convictions, or if the stolen asset is the victim's primary source of income), can face criminal charges. Penalties range from non-custodial reformatory labor for up to 3 years to imprisonment for up to 20 years or life imprisonment. These laws apply to both traditional and online asset appropriation.
• Past Cases: Vietnam has a history of cracking down on cryptocurrency fraud. The transcript mentions a case in Đồng Nai province where a virtual currency fraud ring, MTX Magic Train, defrauded tens of thousands of investors of nearly 10,000 billion VND, considered one of the largest crypto scams in Vietnam.

Common Tactics of Crypto Scams

The transcript outlines common strategies employed by fraudsters:

• High Return Promises: Organizing seminars and forums to solicit investments with promises of exceptionally high returns.
• "4.0 Technology" Facade: Presenting virtual financial projects as cutting-edge "4.0 technology" or "future currencies."
• Referral Bonuses: Offering commissions for recruiting new investors.
• Exaggerated Growth Claims: Promising astronomical returns, such as a 58,000% increase, to entice investors.
• Lack of Guarantees: Issuing tokens like Antex without any underlying technological backing or guarantees.
• The Fraudulent Process:
  1. Establish a Tech Company: Creating a seemingly legitimate technology company.
  2. Build Personal Image: Cultivating an image of success and wealth to attract individuals seeking quick riches.
  3. Fundraising: Raising capital by claiming to invest in future projects.
  4. Abandonment: Ultimately, no actual investment occurs. Large sums of money are collected, the system is collapsed, or the token's price is drastically reduced, after which the perpetrators disappear.
• Investor Ignorance: Many investors lack understanding of the assets they are investing in or the business models of the platforms.
• Unrealistic Expectations: Promises of substantial returns within specific timeframes (e.g., nearly 2 billion VND from a 650 million VND investment over 18 months).
• "Future of Money" Rhetoric: Promoting cryptocurrencies as the future currency, potentially replacing national currencies, which lures people with promises of immense wealth.

Types of Crypto Scams and Their Characteristics

Ms. Nguyễn Vân Hiền, Vice President of the Vietnam Blockchain Association (VBA), elaborates on common scam models:

• Technological Facade: Utilizing technologies like NFT, Metaverse, or blockchain to build credibility.
• Personal Branding: Leveraging personal images to attract investors.
• Token Issuance: Releasing tokens that lack genuine technological value.
• Price Manipulation: Employing "pump and dump" schemes to inflate token prices and attract capital.
• "Rug Pull" Mechanism: Executing "rug pulls" where investors lose all their money, and the token value becomes zero.
• Decentralized Exchanges (DEXs): Often listing tokens on DEXs, which are difficult to control and monitor.
• Statistics on DEX Scams: A 2025 Chainalysis report indicated that approximately 3.59% of scams occur on DEXs, highlighting the need for investor caution.

Crypto Assets as a Tool for Other Crimes

• Scale of the Problem: Between 2019 and 2024, nearly 20,000 cases related to crypto assets, virtual currencies, and digital money have caused over 12,000 trillion VND in damages.
• Evolution of Scams: Initially, these might not have been direct crypto fundraising scams but rather general online fraud. However, perpetrators often convert the illicit gains into crypto assets through international exchanges.
• Underground Economy: Crypto assets are exploited to create a black market for money movement in illegal activities.
• Money Laundering Operations: A 2024 investigation revealed a criminal group that collaborated with a money laundering unit ("777 Pay") to launder stolen assets. This involved complex bank transfers and crypto asset trading to obscure the origin of funds.
• Daily Transaction Volume: An estimated 600 million USD (over 16,000 billion VND) in crypto assets are traded daily in Vietnam, with a significant portion occurring on international exchanges.
• Impact on Regulation: This international trading poses challenges for tax collection and efforts to combat money laundering, terrorist financing, and high-tech crime, necessitating a transparent and controlled domestic market.

Regulatory Responses and Future Outlook

• Prohibition of Virtual Currency as Payment: Mr. Cường reiterates that Vietnamese Decree 101/2012/NĐ-CP prohibits the issuance, provision, and use of virtual currency as legal tender or a payment method.
• Reasons for Persistent Scams:
  • Lack of Investor Understanding: Many individuals do not fully grasp the distinction between crypto assets, digital currencies, virtual money, and digital assets, nor the difference between fiat currency and privately issued currency.
  • Incomplete Legal Framework: The legal framework for digital assets in Vietnam and globally remains incomplete, hindering effective state control.
  • Exploitation of Legal Gaps: Fraudsters and those seeking illicit gains exploit these legal loopholes by spreading misinformation.
  • Investor Psychology: The "fear of missing out" (FOMO) and the desire for high returns drive investors to participate in new and potentially risky ventures.
• Vietnam's Pilot Framework: Vietnam has introduced Resolution 05/2025/NQ-CP, a pilot legal framework for the crypto asset market.
  • Licensed Exchanges: Transactions must occur on state-licensed exchanges during the pilot phase. Initially, only five enterprises are permitted to offer these services.
  • Centralized Exchanges (CEXs): Vietnamese exchanges will be centralized platforms where users trade through intermediaries via order matching systems, not direct peer-to-peer transactions.
• Benefits of Centralized Pilot: Ms. Hiền explains that this approach allows for customer and transaction identification, creating a valuable database on crypto asset activities and investor behavior. This is crucial for risk control and investor protection, especially given the current dominance of unregulated international exchanges.
• Investor Eligibility: During the pilot, only domestic investors holding crypto assets or foreign investors can open accounts. Investors trading on international platforms are urged to transfer their assets to domestic exchanges once the official system is operational.
• Penalties for Non-Compliance: Trading on non-compliant platforms for more than six months after the system's launch can result in administrative fines or criminal prosecution under Resolution 05.

Further Solutions for Risk Management

• Comprehensive Legal Framework: Mr. Cường emphasizes the need to perfect policies and laws. Resolution 05 is a pilot, and the upcoming Law on Digital Technology (effective January 1, 2026) will provide a foundation for further government decrees.
• Public Education and Awareness: Disseminating legal information and new regulations to the public is crucial.
• Enhanced Enforcement: Strengthening management and enforcement actions against violations.
• Investor Responsibility: Both Mr. Cường and Ms. Hiền stress that investors are ultimately responsible for their decisions.
• Investor Recommendations:
  • Understand the Risks: "The higher the profit, the greater the risk." Investors often lack knowledge about protecting themselves and understanding trading mechanisms.
  • Choose Reputable and Licensed Platforms: Prioritize trading on licensed exchanges in Vietnam.
  • Invest in Liquid Assets: Select crypto assets with good liquidity to ensure investment effectiveness.
  • Due Diligence: Thoroughly understand any investment before committing funds.
  • Invest in Regulated Projects: Focus on projects and exchanges that are under state supervision.
  • Avoid Emotional or Herd Investing: Investing based on emotions, crowd mentality, or idolization carries high risks.
• Recourse for Victims: Investors who have lost money in fraudulent projects should contact law enforcement, provide evidence, request to be recognized as victims, seek damages, and cooperate with investigations to recover assets.

Conclusion

The transcript concludes by highlighting that while technology evolves and new, sophisticated investment schemes will emerge, the legal framework for crypto assets is essential. However, the most critical factor remains individual investor awareness and prudence. In the face of new investment trends, individuals must pause, reflect, and critically assess whether their decisions are driven by rational judgment or by greed. The ability to believe in overnight wealth and invest in things not fully understood makes it difficult for the law to protect individuals.