9/11 victims claim seized bitcoins from Chinese-Iranian mining pool
9/11 victims seek share of seized Bitcoin
Victims and families of 9/11 victims filed a statement of interest in Bitcoin that was seized by the US government from a mining pool called LuBian.com. They argue the pool is linked to Iran and that they should be compensated from it. The filing, made on October 13, 2026, references another lawsuit that claims LuBian was operated by the Iran and China Investment Development Group. Based on that claim, the 9/11 victims say LuBian "is an agency or instrumentality of Iran."
Who are the claimants and what do they hold
The group, known collectively as the Chairnoff Claimants, says they hold judgments totaling more than $671 million in compensatory damages against the Islamic Republic of Iran for its role in sponsoring the 9/11 terrorist attacks. They are claiming a share of the 127,271 BTC seized from LuBian. Other groups of 9/11 victims are also believed to have claims on the same Bitcoin as victims of state-sponsored terrorism.
What the US government says
LuBian was not exclusively an Iranian operation. The US government describes it in several places as "a Chinese BTC mining operation," though it acknowledges the pool had at least one facility in Iran. The government also states that the seized funds are not exclusively from LuBian. They include money associated with Chen Zhi and Prince Holding Group, as well as transfers from centralized exchanges — crypto platforms where people trade digital currencies — beyond just the mining proceeds.
What remains unclear
It is not yet clear how the court will weigh the victims' claims against the government's description of the seized funds or how the Bitcoin will ultimately be distributed, if at all.
Why this matters
The case highlights how seized cryptocurrency is becoming a point of contention in long-running legal battles over state-sponsored terrorism. It also underscores the growing intersection between crypto assets and international legal disputes.
Sources
Newisty Editorial Team covers technology, cryptocurrency, digital products, online platforms, developer tools and the wider digital economy. Our content is researched from official sources, company announcements, public documentation, market data and other primary or reputable sources. Articles are reviewed and edited before publication for clarity, accuracy and useful context.
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