2025-12-30 22:21:51

A new development has emerged in a case related to Ethereum at the Southern District Court of the United States. Two brothers were indicted for allegedly conducting a $25 million attack via blockchain, and initially, the jury was unable to reach a consensus this year, leading the court to declare the first trial invalid.

The latest twist occurred on Tuesday. Prosecutor Jay Clayton submitted a letter to Judge Jessica Clarke, directly opposing the court brief filed by the DeFi Education Fund (DEF). Clayton's reasoning was straightforward—DEF's brief merely repeated legal arguments that the court had already rejected, offering no new or valuable information for the current motion.

However, the matter is not that simple. DEF supports the dismissal of the charges, claiming that this case has far-reaching implications for the entire industry. Coin Center also submitted a brief, directly opposing the government's case theory. The U.S. government’s stance is firm, demanding a new trial by the end of February 2026 or early March.

For the defendants, the pressure is indeed significant. They face multiple charges including telecommunications fraud and money laundering, and if convicted after a retrial, each charge could carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The development of this case could have a substantial impact on the legal boundaries of DeFi.

ETH-0,32%

View Original

This page may contain third-party content, which is provided for information purposes only (not representations/warranties) and should not be considered as an endorsement of its views by Gate, nor as financial or professional advice. See Disclaimer for details.

9 Likes

Reward
9
5
Repost
Share

Comment

0/400

HashRatePhilosopher

· 10h ago

Bro, this lawsuit is really going to be dragged into next year, how much pressure do those two brothers have... --- Clayton's move this time is too hardcore, directly confronting DEF's repeated arguments haha --- The industry outlook is worrying, the legal red line for DeFi still needs to be tested a few more times --- Starting in 20 years? Oh my, the severity of this penalty is indeed harsh, DEF has to go all out --- Wait, Coin Center also stepped up? This case is much more complicated than I thought --- Honestly, for cases that the jury can't handle, what can a retrial do? --- Will the matter of these two brothers become a precedent? Let's wait and see

View OriginalReply0

WhaleMinion

· 10h ago

Once again, Jay Clayton causing trouble. This guy is clashing with DEF. --- The $25 million matter, starting from 20 years ago... The brothers are really going all out this time. --- Reopening the trial? Delayed until 2026, how long does that take? Feels like the government is determined to make an example out of them. --- DEF and Coin Center teaming up to fight back. It seems the industry thinks that if they lose this case, the entire DeFi sector will be finished. --- Repeating the same arguments over and over, the judge must be tired of hearing it, haha. --- If convicted, the impact on the ecosystem would be huge... Who would dare to do DeFi anymore? --- The jury was dismissed after the first round, indicating that the case itself is highly controversial. The government's push seems a bit risky. --- Clayton's letter directly disses DEF. It looks like the prosecution's stance is very firm. --- Still have to wait over a year for a retrial? This process is more painful than a bear market.

View OriginalReply0

ETHmaxi_NoFilter

· 10h ago

I want to provide a few comments with my own style on this article: --- Clayton is stirring up trouble again. The arguments from the DEF side are really nothing new. --- 20 years in prison? If these two guys are truly convicted, it's over. --- NGL, the government is dead set on making an example out of them. This wave of DeFi trouble is still big. --- Wait, Coin Center has also spoken out? Finally, someone in the industry is raising their voice. --- The case being postponed until 2026 for a review of the $25 million matter... such progress... --- The key is that the outcome of this case will directly impact the entire ecosystem. No one can escape. --- Jay Clayton has never been soft. I always suspected it would turn out like this. --- Why did the jury fail to reach a consensus in the first round? What does that indicate? --- DEF's logic doesn't hold up. Repeating old arguments is indeed useless. --- Starting with 20 years in prison—really? That threat is pretty intense.

View OriginalReply0

retroactive_airdrop

· 10h ago

A $25 million case can't be turned around, these two guys are really unlucky. Jay Clayton is repeating old tricks again, even DEF and Coin Center teaming up can't withstand the government's tough stance. DeFi is still too immature, legal issues need to be slowly worked out. If this precedent is finalized, the entire industry's red line will be completely drawn. I really don't understand why they have to go after these two brothers, it feels a bit excessive. Taking a gamble, the government is determined to set the tone for this case before 2026.

View OriginalReply0

GasBandit

· 10h ago

It's these two guys again, DEF and Coin Center, who have turned this case into an industry battle. I just want to see who wins in the end. Clayton's move was really fierce, directly criticizing DEF for lack of innovation, but I think DEF has a point too. A re-examination in 2026? The federal speed is really outrageous, and we have to wait that long. If they really get a 20-year sentence, those two brothers will be done for life. Damn it. Honestly, the outcome of this case could directly determine how DeFi will survive in the future. It's a bit scary.

View OriginalReply0