Malone Lam Yu Xuan, a 20-year-old from a small country in Asia, Singapore, has entered the spotlight with his alleged involvement in a $320 million US crypto heist. Once a secondary school student in Choa Chu Kang, Lam transitioned from a gamer to a figure best dubbed a “crypto whizz-kid”, showing a rapid rise with his lavish lifestyle and “buy whatever” habit.
This all began with Lam dropping out of school at 13 or 14. He then shifted his focus to online gaming, where he operated under aliases “Greavys” and “Anne Hathaway.” His journey took him to the US in October 2023 on a tourist visa, which later expired, marking the start of his deeper plunge into the crypto world.
MALONE LAM FROM UNITY SEC?!?!?!?! 😭😭😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/a7dkhwc4MN
— 🇪🇸🇹🇷 liserpentina al-gaib. also chem major (@sserpentinaa) March 17, 2025
Malone Lam: Facing 20 Years from Alleged Crypto Heist
In August 2024, Lam allegedly stole over 4,100 , in one of the largest crypto heist in US history. Alongside his American accomplice and gaming buddy, Jeandiel Serrano, Lam executed a complex scam using social engineering tactics to deceive his victim.
Malone Lam then used his stolen funds to lead an extravagant lifestyle that drew attention. The Singapore crypto thief is best known for using the fund to buy 31 luxury cars, including a $3.8 million Pagani Huayra. He also has multiple Miami mansions with rents up to $68,000 monthly and a $1.8 million watch.
In addition, Lam’s spending spree extended to nightclub excesses. Lam would drop $665,000 in a single night and gift designer bags to women, showing his notoriety.
Malone Lam is the definition of “BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY” and “You Only Live Once”
He is 20 years old and he stole over $243 million of Bitcoin (4,100 Bitcoin)
He knew he was going to get caught so in only a month he bought girls Birkin bags, Lamborghinis and spent money on… pic.twitter.com/fFd4Anpskv
— The Investor Bandit (@investorbandit) December 23, 2024
Currently detained in Virginia, Malone Lam faces trial in October 2025. He is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, each carrying a potential 20-year sentence. At the moment, Lam’s legal team is pushing a suppression motion, demanding search warrant details, while prosecutors estimate a 14-to-17.5-year jail term.
Singapore’s reputation as a crypto hub gains a complex layer through this case. Malone Lam and his crypto heist display Asia’s tech-smart youth and growing crypto scene.
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has implemented clear guidelines, like the Payment Services Act, fostering a flexible environment for crypto startups and investors. This attracts global firms, with over 200 crypto-related companies already established.
“Singapore (MAS) has received over 300 requests for payments and crypto exchange licences, including applications from Alibaba and Google.”
– CoinDeskSingapore going 🚀🚀🚀
— Bitcoin Archive (@BTC_Archive) June 6, 2021
Additionally, Singapore’s strategic location and infrastructure also have its appeal. Positioned as a gateway to Asia, it bridges the Eastern and Western world, offering low-latency crypto trading with top-tier cybersecurity. Combined with tax incentives and a growing crypto community, Singapore is leading as the Asia crypto capital alongside Dubai.
Looking beyond Singapore, the Asia crypto landscape has some standout options. Focusing on projects with solid foundations that tackle practical challenges, we pick some of the best Asia crypto to buy.
DISCOVER: 20+ Next Crypto to Explode in 2025
NEO the Chinese Ethereum: Best Asia Crypto to Buy?
, often dubbed the “ of China.” It is an open-source blockchain platform launched in 2014 by founders Da Hongfei and Erik Zhang under its original name, Antshares. Rebranded to NEO in 2017, it’s building a “smart economy” by integrating digital assets, identities, and smart contracts.Based in China, NEO distinguishes itself by focusing on regulatory compliance in a region with strict crypto regulations. Its native token, NEO, powers the ecosystem, while GAS, handles transaction fees, offering a dual-token model that gives back to participants.
The platform operates on a delegated Byzantine Fault Tolerance (dBFT) mechanism, a proof-of-stake that prioritizes speed and energy efficiency. This allows NEO to process up to 10,000 transactions per second, far surpassing many competitors.
2️⃣ $NEO
The @neo_blockchain is an open source blockchain for creating a decentralized smart economy. It combines digital assets, credentials and smart contracts using the dBFT consensus mechanism for high speed and low latency. The platform supports multiple programming… pic.twitter.com/o3Qme6otZG
— Fallen Angel 🪽 (@0xFallin) March 1, 2025
The 2021 launch of NEO 3.0 (N3), introduced native oracles for off-chain data and NeoFS for decentralized storage. The upgrades position NEO as a versatile platform for real-world applications, from asset digitization to dApp development.
NEO’s appeal in Asia stems from its friendly design and strategic alignment with China’s blockchain ambitions. By supporting multiple programming languages, such as Python and Java, NEO lowers barriers for developers.
NEO is carving a niche as a scalable, compliant blockchain contender, ready to capitalize on Asia’s expanding digital economy.
DOGE: American Based Meme Coin from Asia Crypto Culture
The nod to a beloved symbol from Japan has resonated deeply across Asia. The Shiba Inu’s image, popularized by the “Doge” meme, bridges internet culture with regional affinity.
Though not technically Asia-based crypto, DOGE’s branding roots come from a Japanese identity. It gives interest and adoption among Asian crypto investors who see it as a lighthearted player in the market.
Shiba Inu origins give it a unique cultural hook in places like Japan, South Korea, and beyond, where meme coins often gain traction alongside more serious blockchain projects.
Finding the Next DOGE: MEMEX Indexing Potential Pump
Before they skyrocket, MEMEX offers a powerful lens for spotting the next big meme coins, such as a future Dogecoin. The Meme Indexing tools curate baskets of meme coins across varying risk levels: Titan, Moonshot, Midcap, and Frenzy.
It gives investors a diversified view of the market. This structured approach tracks trending tokens and community sentiment, key drivers behind meme coin explosions.
Currently priced at $0.0166883, it is still in its presale, and MEMEX has already raised over $4 million. It simplifies the chaotic meme coin world, making it easier to identify breakout stars early.
MEMEX also sweetens the deal with a staking APY exceeding 560%, a lucrative draw for early adopters by giving maximum returns. To make the best of MEMEX crypto, investors can buy in during the presale, stake their tokens immediately, and hold for both yield and governance rights.
Also, MEMEX could be the next viral hit with a community-based model that mirrors the energy that propelled DOGE. Meme Index presale is ending soon, and listings will be rolled out soon.
To learn more, join the Meme Index community on Telegram and X.
DISCOVER: Best Meme Coin ICOs to Invest in March 2025
Join The 99Bitcoins News Discord Here For The Latest Market Updates
Key Takeaways
- The Case of Malone Lam and his crypto heist.
- Is NEO the best Asia crypto to buy?
- Meme Coin market led by DOGE. Is Doge a truly American coin?
- Finding the next DOGE with the right tool.
Why you can trust 99Bitcoins
Established in 2013, 99Bitcoin’s team members have been crypto experts since Bitcoin’s Early days.
Weekly Research
100k+Monthly readers
Expert contributors
2000+Crypto Projects Reviewed
Free Bitcoin Crash Course
- Enjoyed by over 100,000 students.
- One email a day, 7 days in a row.
- Short and educational, guaranteed!
Maximize Your Trading With Margex’s 20% Deposit Bonus
Hottest Meme Coins to Buy in April? Retail Target Latest Crypto For Mega Gains
AR.IO Brings The Permanent Cloud to AI Storage Crisis
10 Best Crypto Bonuses in 2025 – Top Exchange Offers & Promotions
4 Days Left For Early Investors in World’s First Meme Coin Index: Meme Coin Mcap Hits $56Bn
