On July 3, 2025, authorities in the United Arab Emirates arrested Ildar Ilham — known online as “Prometheus” — suspected mastermind behind the now-infamous ZKasino rug pull, a $30 million crypto scam that duped thousands of investors.
Ilham operated under multiple identities and is believed to be just 21 years old, with ties to WhiteRock_Fi, a follow-up DeFi project already under scrutiny. His arrest was the result of cross-border cooperation between the UAE and Dutch authorities, indicating the growing global urgency in tackling crypto fraud.
How the Scam Worked
ZKasino initially posed as a high-tech, decentralized gambling protocol. Investors were promised yields and early access rewards. Instead, funds were siphoned off using a network of wallets across zkSync, Starknet, Solana, and privacy-centric Monero chains.
Earlier this year, Dutch police also arrested Nurzay Elham, another ZKasino associate, seizing over €11.4 million in assets. But Ilham’s capture is seen as the most critical development in the investigation so far.
The Bigger Picture
- Ilham's arrest underscores the evolution of laundering techniques: mixing protocols, privacy tokens, and OTC networks.
- WhiteRock_Fi has been delisted from several exchanges following investor pressure.
- The case shows how blockchain forensic tools and international legal collaboration are catching up to sophisticated scammers.
Why It Matters
This story is more than a single arrest — it signals a turning point in crypto law enforcement. With AI-generated scams and cross-chain laundering on the rise, regulators and platforms are doubling down on KYC, AML protocols, and on-chain monitoring.
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