Buying and selling U is not illegal, so why are people still sentenced?
You might think it’s just a regular transaction, but these risks could lead you to legal trouble.
Let’s start with some data: by 2025, over 120 criminal cases related to buying and selling U have been investigated nationwide, with involved amounts reaching 4 billion 💥
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💰 "U" refers to USDT (Tether), a type of virtual currency pegged to the US dollar at a 1:1 ratio. Buying U and selling U means exchanging RMB for USDT through over-the-counter (OTC) transactions, or vice versa, which is similar to exchanging foreign currency. If you are just simply buying low and selling high, it does not constitute a crime.
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❓ Why are there still so many crimes? There are mainly three modes that are likely to involve criminal activity.
1️⃣ Buying for others offline - concealing crime
Buying for others and selling for others is a very common scenario. After you sell USDT, the funds paid by the buyer are actually “fraudulent funds.” Even if you are unaware, you may still be identified as “concealing and hiding criminal proceeds” (prison term of less than 3 years or 3-7 years).
2️⃣ Personal purchase/lending of bank cards - aiding crime
Personal purchases, if the amount of proceeds reaches the case filing standard, constitute aiding crime. If it does not reach the filing standard, it can easily lead to card freezes and fines.
Lending bank cards for commissions, assisting in transfers, or providing transaction channels, even if not directly involved in the crime,
may also constitute “aiding criminal activities in information networks” (prison term of less than 3 years).
3️⃣ Platform “gray” illegal operation
For instance, frequently reselling USDT for profit/large transactions through non-regulatory platforms or social networks/using others' accounts,
cash transactions to evade supervision can all be suspected of illegal operation.
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🔥 The premium on U coin OTC trading is very high. Some take risks for high profits, while others inadvertently receive fraudulent funds, falling into traps.
Even if you argue “I was unaware,” the following situations could still lead to conviction:
✅ Previously had a card frozen due to similar transactions;
✅ Transaction prices significantly deviating from market prices;
✅ Using anonymous chat software or tools like “bat” or “paper airplane” for communication.
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👉 Reminder:
1. Strictly check the source of funds: refuse transfers from non-real-name accounts! Ask the other party for proof of fund flow before trading.
2. Control transaction frequency: avoid high-frequency and large transactions (single transactions over 50,000 or monthly flows exceeding 200,000 pose significantly increased risks).
3. Stop immediately if the card is frozen: if the bank card is frozen, suspend all transactions!
Follow @交易学院成哥 for more systematic responses, allowing you to remain steady like an old hand in the storm.