Procedural stage
Identify the immediate priorities for meetings, evidence collection, communications and applications during investigation, prosecution review and trial.
Criminal Defence and Risk Response
The earlier the facts, evidence and procedural posture are clarified, the more room there may be for an effective response. Matters involving digital assets, online platforms or business operations also require a clear account of the business model, funds flow and electronic data.
Mankun's criminal team handles digital-asset and cybercrime matters, economic offences and cases involving corporate executives. We also advise on criminal-risk controls, account unfreezing and virtual-asset recovery. We start with the facts and translate industry mechanics into evidence and legal submissions that investigators, prosecutors and courts can examine.
How complex criminal matters are handled
A criminal case does not begin at trial. Counsel should assess procedure, evidence and the theory of the allegation as early as possible. In Web3 and new-economy matters, the business, funds flow and on-chain activity must also be reconstructed accurately.
Evidence structure
Review witness evidence, electronic data, on-chain records, payment records and business documents, and identify conflicts or gaps across the evidence.
Business and funds flow
Reconstruct the real relationships among platforms, projects, accounts and transactions instead of treating a single label as proof of a person's role or conduct.
Communication and response
Turn industry facts into verifiable legal submissions and evidence, while keeping clients and families informed about progress and available choices.
How Mankun can help
Connected criminal-law support across case handling, preventive controls, account unfreezing and asset recovery.
01Criminal defence
Defence strategy across investigation, prosecution review and trial, grounded in the facts, evidence, procedure and applicable law.- Client meetings and fact review
- File review, evidence analysis and investigation
- Applications for bail, non-approval of arrest and review of detention necessity
- Legal submissions, defence opinions and courtroom advocacy
02Criminal-risk controls
Identify potential criminal exposure for businesses and individuals before or after a product launch, major transaction or risk event.- Web3 and new-economy compliance reviews
- Criminal-risk advice for executives
- Risk assessments for projects, investors and KOLs
- Strategies for matters spanning civil and criminal law
03Bank-account and account unfreezing
For freezes linked to gambling, fraud, transaction chains or out-of-area investigations, verify the source of funds, transaction context and account control.- Verification of the freezing authority and case details
- Transaction records and source-of-funds review
- Unfreezing applications and legal submissions
- Engagement with authorities and account-risk review
04Virtual-asset recovery and loss mitigation
Organise the materials required for reporting, evidence preservation and tracing where exchange accounts are restricted or digital assets are stolen or obtained by fraud.- On-chain tracing and evidence preservation
- Police reports and criminal complaints
- Technical evidence and third-party coordination
- Asset-disposal and recovery-path assessment
Criminal defence through each stage
Priorities change by stage, but fact review, evidence analysis and communication strategy must remain continuous.
- 01Investigation
Investigation
Meet the client early, confirm the compulsory measures and direction of investigation, and submit evidence-based opinions on arrest and detention necessity at the relevant stage.
- 02Prosecution Review
Prosecution review
Review the complete case file and evidence chain, then prepare written submissions on findings of fact, legal characterisation and sentencing factors.
- 03Trial
Trial
Organise evidence, examination and courtroom argument around the disputed issues, while continuing to assess available case-resolution paths.
Selected case experience
The 28 anonymised examples below are grouped by outcome and operating context. Every result depends on its facts, evidence and procedure; no result is promised and the examples do not predict another matter.
Dismissal, non-prosecution, non-approval of arrest and not-guilty defence
Defence focused on knowledge and intent, the nature of the conduct, sufficiency of evidence and procedural conditions.
- 01Arrest not approved · Case dismissed
Aiding information-network crime case
We argued that the evidence did not show the client knew a website sold by the client's side would be used by an upstream buyer for loan fraud. The procuratorate declined arrest within 37 days and the case was ultimately dismissed.
- 02Returned to police · Case dismissed
Personal-information case involving a loan-services company
In a loan-services company case involving alleged infringement of citizens' personal information, the procuratorate returned the matter to police and the case was dismissed.
- 03Arrest not approved · Bail lifted · Case dismissed
Illegal foreign-exchange business case
We presented a not-guilty defence in an alleged illegal foreign-exchange business case. Arrest was not approved and, one year later, bail conditions were lifted and the case was dismissed.
- 04Prosecution withdrawn · Not guilty
Fujian virtual-currency OTC case
In a Fujian case alleging illegal business operations through virtual-currency OTC activity, our work contributed to withdrawal of the prosecution and a not-guilty outcome.
- 05Bail granted · Case dismissed
Large gambling-operation case in Henan
We became involved during the police investigation of a large alleged gambling-operation case in Henan and obtained bail followed by dismissal.
- 06Non-prosecution for insufficient evidence
Henan fraud case involving more than RMB 10 million
After two supplemental investigations in a Henan fraud case involving more than RMB 10 million, the procuratorate issued a non-prosecution decision because the evidence remained insufficient.
- 07Case dismissed · Administrative penalty
Anhui virtual-currency gambling case
In an Anhui matter linking virtual currency to gambling, the criminal case was dismissed and the matter was converted to an administrative penalty.
- 08Not-guilty defence · Investigation terminated
Filecoin mining multi-level-marketing case
We represented a department manager in a Filecoin mining case involving alleged multi-level-marketing activity. Police terminated the investigation following the not-guilty defence.
- 09Discretionary non-prosecution
Zhejiang aiding information-network crime case
We secured discretionary non-prosecution in a Zhejiang case involving the alleged offence of aiding information-network criminal activity.
- 10Arrest not approved
Major illegal-business case in Hubei
We intervened during the police stage of a major alleged illegal-business case in Hubei and secured non-approval of arrest.
- 11Bail lifted · Ultimately not guilty
Henan virtual-currency OTC case
After the client had been detained for one year in a Henan virtual-currency OTC case, the procuratorate returned the full case. Police lifted the bail conditions and the matter ended without a conviction.
Bail, suspended sentences, appellate changes and sentencing mitigation
Seek a more favourable outcome by analysing the mechanism, degree of participation, amount involved and relevant sentencing factors.
- 01Amount substantially reduced
DAO multi-level-marketing case
In a case alleging that a DAO's token issuance on a virtual-currency exchange constituted organising and leading multi-level-marketing activity, our work substantially reduced the amount attributed to the client.
- 02Amount reduced
Blockchain-game gambling-operation case
A client was accused of operating a gambling business after inviting others to a blockchain game. Analysis of the mechanism helped reduce the amount attributed to the client.
- 03Bail granted
Corporate legal representative embezzlement case
We applied for bail after the corporate legal representative had been detained for approximately three weeks in an alleged embezzlement case, and the application was approved.
- 04Sentence reduced by nearly half
Virtual-currency exchange gambling-operation case
In a gambling-operation case involving a virtual-currency exchange, the sentence was reduced by nearly half and the client was also able to control property losses more effectively.
- 05Only suspended sentence among co-defendants
Illegal public-deposit-taking case
The client received a suspended sentence in an illegal public-deposit-taking case; among nearly ten co-defendants, this employee was the only person granted a suspended sentence.
- 06Judgment changed on appeal · Sentence reduced
Perpetual-contract gambling case involving a major exchange
In a gambling-operation case involving perpetual contracts on a major exchange, the second-instance court changed the judgment and reduced the sentence.
- 07Charge changed · Suspended sentence
Anhui cross-border gambling-operation case
In a large cross-border gambling-operation case in Anhui, the charge was changed to aiding information-network criminal activity and the client received a suspended sentence.
- 08Remanded for retrial on appeal
Cross-border fraud case in Sichuan
A Sichuan client received a six-year sentence at first instance in a cross-border fraud case. After we joined on appeal, the full case was remanded for retrial.
Criminal-risk controls and new-economy matters
Specialist support before and after risks arise, with attention to platform operations, project execution, individual roles and investment relationships.
- 01Criminal defence in multiple regions
NFT and digital-collectible platform cases across China
We provided criminal defence for NFT and digital-collectible platform matters in Shanghai, Henan, Anhui, Fujian, Heilongjiang and Shandong.
- 02Criminal risk resolved
Blockchain developer embezzlement case
We helped resolve criminal exposure for a blockchain-project developer accused of embezzlement.
- 032022-2025 · Dozens of platforms
Nationwide NFT and digital-collectible platform programme
From 2022 to 2025, we provided criminal-risk-control services to dozens of NFT and digital-collectible platforms across China, supporting stable implementation.
- 04Police confirmed no involvement
Quantitative-trading executive accused of fraud
For an executive of a quantitative-trading team accused of fraud, we analysed likely questions and prepared fact-based responses. Police ultimately confirmed that the client was not involved in the case.
- 05Pre-investigation legal preparation
Digital-asset white-hat hacker questioned repeatedly
After a digital-asset white-hat hacker was questioned repeatedly by police in northern China, we analysed the matter and provided pre-investigation preparation to control the immediate criminal risk.
- 06Transaction-risk controls
Risk controls for virtual-currency OTC merchants
We advise virtual-currency OTC merchants and other clients on legal risk controls for virtual-currency trading and investment.
- 07Planning · Execution · Launch
Full-cycle criminal-risk controls for projects
We assess criminal exposure and design responses during planning, follow new business models and provide preventive advice during execution, and review internal control gaps and remediation at launch.
- 08Preventing escalation across civil and criminal law
Criminal-risk controls for funds and individuals
We advise investment funds and individuals on criminal-risk controls intended to prevent investment disputes from escalating into criminal matters.
- 09Continuing criminal-risk controls
KOL personal advice and risk separation
We advise KOLs on separating themselves from unlawful projects and support KOLs facing claims or organised complaints with continuing criminal-risk controls.
Criminal defence team
Lawyers with experience in criminal defence, investigations, cybercrime and digital assets work together on complex matters.
Partner, Mankun Law Firm (Shenzhen)
Deng Xiaoyu
Focused on criminal work since 2017, with particular strength in cybercrime and criminal defence across the Web3 ecosystem.
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Senior Lawyer
Shao Shiwei
ECUPL LL.M. who has handled more than 300 criminal matters since 2018, with a focus on internet, virtual-asset and financial crime.
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Partner
Gao Mengyang
Focuses on new-economy crime, criminal compliance and emerging offences, informed by legal-risk management experience at a major internet company.
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Senior Lawyer
Wei Fuhai
Has more than ten years of legal-services experience and has handled over one hundred criminal matters.
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Senior Lawyer
Qian Wei
LL.M. focused on digital finance, digital assets, data compliance and corporate criminal compliance.
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Senior Lawyer, Mankun Law Firm (Shenzhen)
Fang Yangtuo
Brings frontline police-investigation experience and ten years of practice, with more than 360 matters handled.
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Senior Lawyer
Lu Haoxin
LL.M. with more than five years of experience in cybercrime, digital assets, criminal complaints and corporate compliance.
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Senior Lawyer
Bao Jie
Former economic-crime investigator with more than ten years in a provincial public-security economic-investigation system.
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Senior Lawyer, Mankun Law Firm (Shenzhen)
Lü Yinghui
China University of Political Science and Law graduate combining judicial practice, criminal defence and Web3 compliance experience.
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Partner
Xu Qian
Has more than 14 years of practice focused on criminal defence, corporate counsel and matters at the civil-criminal boundary.
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Senior Lawyer, Mankun Law Firm (Shenzhen)
Li Mo
Combines more than ten years in financial services with five years of financial-sector civil and commercial mediation experience.
View profile →Mankun Research · Criminal case results
Practical case experience explaining the facts, evidence, procedure and defence paths in digital-asset matters.
CASE 01
Case result | Appeal judgment changed in a crypto-exchange gambling-operation case
This was the only appeal judgment changed among a series of appeals arising from the same crypto-exchange gambling-operation matter.
Read article →CASE 02
Case results | Favourable outcomes in two criminal matters involving crypto exchanges
Two crypto-exchange matters resulted in a suspended sentence, a reduced term and recovery of property losses.
Read article →Facing a criminal investigation or procedural deadline?
Tell us the current stage, the conduct involved and the most urgent issue. We will help identify the materials and next step.