Uranium Finance Hacker Convicted for $50 Million Crypto Theft

Uranium Finance hacker convicted — A hacker behind a $50 million exploit of the Uranium Finance decentralized exchange has been convicted in a U.S. court for wire fraud and money laundering.

Jonathan Spalletta, 35, was found guilty by a federal jury in Chicago for his role in the 2021 attack. Prosecutors detailed how he used the stolen funds to purchase luxury items, including rare Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering trading cards.

His extravagant spending also extended to a Roman coin commemorating the assassination of Julius Caesar and a piece of fabric that flew on the Wright brothers’ first airplane. Authorities traced these purchases through blockchain analysis, linking them back to the stolen crypto assets.

The conviction underscores ongoing efforts by U.S. law enforcement to pursue and prosecute high-value crypto thefts, even when perpetrators attempt to launder proceeds through physical collectibles. Sentencing for Spalletta is scheduled for a later date.