Myanmar proposes harsh penalties for crypto fraud, including death penalty
نظرة سريعة
- Myanmar's military government has proposed the Anti-Online Fraud Bill, introducing severe penalties including life imprisonment and the death penalty for digital currency and online fraud.
- The law targets scam centers and comes amid international efforts to combat such operations.
ملخص مُنشأ بالذكاء الاصطناعي
لماذا يهم
Myanmar's military government, which seized power in a 2021 coup, has released a bill proposing severe penalties for online and crypto fraud, including the death penalty. This move is framed as a response to threats against the country's sovereignty and stability, and occurs as international bodies work to combat scam centers in Southeast Asia.
The military government of Myanmar released the text of a bill aimed at combating online fraudsters, with several penalties related to cryptocurrencies and scam centers.
According to the text of the Anti-Online Fraud Bill, made public on Thursday, Myanmar’s parliament, the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, proposed the law in response to online fraud in the country, which it said challenged its “sovereignty and stability.”
The law stated that anyone who was convicted of committing “digital currency fraud” or online fraud could face from ten years to life in prison, and possibly the death penalty.
In addition, the law set out conditions under which the death penalty would be imposed, including those related to the country’s scam centers. Anyone responsible for the death of an individual who had been coerced or exploited into committing online fraud would receive a sentence of death.
Source: Myanmar government
The proposed law and its potential penalties were some of the most severe imposed globally for digital currency fraudsters amid scam centers cropping up in areas of Southeast Asia. In January, China reportedly ordered the execution of 11 people linked to Myanmar scam centers that had been responsible for trafficking Chinese nationals.
Related: Scammers use Gmail dot alias trick to spoof Robinhood in phishing scam
International authorities have been working to combat human trafficking in scam centers that continue to con people globally through schemes like pig butchering, romance scams, fake investments and more. The US announced in April that they had worked with authorities in China and Dubai to arrest more than 200 people and shutter nine centers.
Myanmar’s military overthrew its civilian government in a 2021 coup d'état, resulting in its parliament not reconvening until March 2026 following elections the Council on Foreign Relations called “neither free nor fair.” According to a Wednesday notice, the government is scheduled to meet the first week of June and may consider the bill at that time.
Americans lost billions to crypto scams in 2025
According to an FBI report released in April, Americans’ losses from crypto-related scams were more than $11 billion in 2025 and more than $20 billion overall through online fraud. The agency cited a March executive order from US President Donald Trump, who authorized officials to work against “scam centers and cybercrime.”
“The [US Attorney’s Office in the District of Columbia] Scam Center Strike Force is investigating the worst scam compounds located in Southeast Asia,” said the FBI report. “Strike Force teams focus on identifying and pursuing key leaders—including Chinese organized crime affiliates operating in Cambodia, Laos, and Burma—to bring them to justice.”
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توقعات الذكاء الاصطناعي — احتمالات وليست حقائق
The proposed bill will be considered by the Myanmar parliament in early June.
مرجح جداً · خلال أيام
International bodies will closely monitor the implementation of the new law.
مرجح · خلال أسابيع
أسئلة مفتوحة
- Will the proposed bill be passed by the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw?
- What are the specific legal definitions of 'digital currency fraud' and 'scam centers' under the new law?
- How will the death penalty be applied in cases related to scam centers and exploitation?
- What is the current capacity of Myanmar's judicial system to handle such severe penalties?
