From the Dispute of a Well-Known Project Founder to See Web3 Entrepreneurship Compliance Issues

Recently, a partner dispute involving a Web3 project has attracted widespread attention. This dispute escalated from a business disagreement to a criminal case, sparking much discussion. Some believe it is the work of "behind-the-scenes forces," while others think it is the just outcome for those involved. As a criminal lawyer in the Web3 field, although I cannot directly access the case materials, I can discuss compliance issues that Web3 entrepreneurs should pay attention to based on my understanding of Web3 founders and past experiences.

I. Case Overview

According to public information, a TON ecological mini-game platform has sparked controversy due to a business dispute among partners. On February 12, 2025, one party was arrested by the police in Hangzhou, suspected of "illegally obtaining data from computer information systems." The next day, the suspect was transferred to Shanghai. It is worth noting that criminal cases typically require multiple stages, such as investigation and examination for prosecution, before entering the trial process, which can take several months.

Both parties have differing views on each other's roles. One party believes they are at a partner level, while the other party denies this, claiming that the former is merely exploiting community resources for excessive compensation. After the negotiations broke down, one party's team removed the other party's data account access in November 2024, which may have been a direct cause of the incident.

2. Analysis of the Charges Involved

The "crime of illegally acquiring data from computer information systems" is the core of this case. This crime is stipulated in the second paragraph of Article 285 of our Criminal Law, mainly targeting the act of illegally intruding into computer information systems or using other technical means to acquire data and implement illegal control.

According to the current judicial interpretation, this crime has two sentencing levels: serious circumstances and particularly serious circumstances. Serious circumstances may result in imprisonment for not more than three years or criminal detention, and may be fined or punished with a fine alone; particularly serious circumstances may result in imprisonment for more than three years but less than seven years, and a fine may be imposed.

The criteria for judgment include the number of identity verification information obtained, the amount of illegal gains, or the economic losses caused, etc. In this case, the standard that may be involved is the illegal gains or economic losses.

3. Web3 Startup Compliance Suggestions

Setting aside specific cases, we often encounter criminal cases of partnership disputes in practice that arise from "brothers turning into enemies." The main reason is often the lack of clear equity arrangements among partners, shareholders, or core employees in advance. This may not be a problem in the early stages of entrepreneurship, but once the project becomes profitable, especially when substantial gains are achieved, it is likely to lead to disputes.

In addition to the criminal charges involved in this case, common criminal accusations among shareholders' disputes also include "embezzlement" and "tax-related crimes." Despite repeated emphasis from relevant authorities that criminal means should not intervene in civil and commercial disputes, the reality remains complicated. With the increasing number of Web3 enterprises, some computer-related crimes have also begun to emerge in shareholder disputes, marking a new trend of criminal risks in the Web3 field.

Therefore, young Web3 entrepreneurs must pay attention to pre-compliance:

1. Improve legal documents: Ensure that all necessary legal documents are complete, and do not rely solely on templates downloaded from the internet.

2. Involvement of Professional Lawyers: It is best for professional lawyers to draft or review relevant documents in order to minimize commercial and criminal legal risks as much as possible.

3. Hire a consultant lawyer: It is strongly recommended that entrepreneurs hire a lawyer familiar with Web3 and criminal defense as a consultant. This is not only to address potential legal risks but also to receive professional guidance early on to avoid worsening the situation.

4. Clarify equity arrangements: At the early stage of entrepreneurship, the equity distribution and responsibilities of all parties should be clearly defined to avoid disputes arising from profit distribution later on.

5. Data access management: For access permissions involving core data, a strict management system and change process should be established to avoid unauthorized operations that could lead to legal risks.

6. Regular legal audits: Conduct regular compliance checks on the company's operations to promptly identify and address potential risks.

In summary, Web3 entrepreneurs should be aware that many legal risks can be completely avoided in the early stages. By involving and guiding professional lawyers, it is possible not only to mitigate risks but also to create a win-win situation. In contrast, ignoring legal risks may lead all parties into a lose-lose situation, which is truly regrettable.