A self-identified Chinese programmer has ignited controversy by burning 603 ETH (approximately $1.65 million) and donating 1,950 ETH (around $5.35 million) in a series of high-profile blockchain transactions. These actions were accompanied by on-chain messages accusing top executives at a Chinese hedge fund of using so-called “brain-computer weapons.”
The individual, Hu Lezhi, specifically named Feng Xin and Xu Yuzhi, the CEOs of Kuande Investment, also known as WizardQuant, a hedge fund specializing in quantitative trading. Through these transactions, Hu alleged that the firm employed advanced mind-control technology on employees and former employees.
The largest burn of 500 ETH ($1.38 million) occurred in a single transaction, permanently removing the funds from circulation by sending them to an Ethereum null address. Alongside this dramatic act, Hu Lezhi also made significant donations, including 711.52 ETH ($1.97 million) to a WikiLeaks donation address and 700 ETH ($1.94 million) to a Ukraine donation address. Additional funds totaling 1,238 ETH ($3.4 million) were transferred to various other addresses, with the transactions originating from wallets tagged as linked to OKX and Binance.
The accused executives have notable academic backgrounds—Feng Xin holds a PhD in Statistics from Columbia University and serves as Co-Founder and Chief Risk Officer, while Xu Yuzhi, a mathematics graduate from Renmin University of China, serves as Chief Investment Officer.
The crypto community quickly took notice, sparking discussions on social media platforms as users analyzed Hu Lezhi’s wallet activity. The incident has also given rise to Solana-based meme coins inspired by the events, adding a speculative twist to the unfolding saga.
The motivations behind Hu Lezhi’s actions remain unclear—whether they stem from a genuine grievance, a deep-seated conspiracy belief, or a well-calculated protest against financial elites. However, the sheer scale of financial destruction and donation highlights the power of blockchain in facilitating unconventional activism and controversy.