The high-profile trial of brothers Anton and James Peraire-Bueno, accused of orchestrating a $25 million Ethereum exploit, is now in the hands of the jury. After three weeks of intense arguments from both the defense and prosecution, jurors began their deliberations on Wednesday, signaling the final phase of this closely watched cryptocurrency case.
Jury Seeks Clarification on Key Legal Terms
As deliberations continued into Thursday, jurors submitted several detailed questions to the judge — a sign of their careful review of the evidence and legal definitions. Among their queries were requests to clarify terms such as “good faith” and “false representation.” These questions are believed to stem from the prosecution’s argument that the Peraire-Bueno brothers misled victims by posing as “honest validators” during the alleged scheme.
Judge explanations emphasized that a “pretense” involves an act intended to mislead, underscoring the central issue in determining whether the defendants acted with fraudulent intent.
Accusations and Potential Penalties
Prosecutors claim that the brothers exploited maximal extractable value (MEV) bots — tools designed to optimize blockchain transactions — to unlawfully siphon $25 million in digital assets in 2023. They argue the act was a fraudulent manipulation of Ethereum’s transaction system for personal gain.
Both Anton and James Peraire-Bueno face serious federal charges, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. Each count carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison if the brothers are convicted.
The case has drawn significant attention from both the crypto and legal communities, as it could set an important precedent for how blockchain-related crimes are prosecuted in the United States.
