A worker in the hospitality industry has been found guilty of money laundering in a specialized court in the United Kingdom that deals with major fraud cases. This verdict comes after authorities discovered that she had $2.5 billion worth of Bitcoin in her possession.

As per a recent report by the BBC, Jian Wen was convicted by the Southwark Crown Court for using Bitcoin to buy "multi-million pound houses and jewellery." The investigation involved examining 48 electronic devices and thousands of digital files, many of which were translated from Mandarin.

The sudden change in Wen's lifestyle caught the attention of authorities. In 2017, she transitioned from living above a Chinese restaurant to renting a six-bedroom house in North London for around $21,420 per month.

The authorities became suspicious when Wen attempted to purchase a $30 million mansion in London, prompting them to delve deeper into her activities. Despite claiming to have earned millions from Bitcoin mining, she faced difficulties passing money-laundering checks while trying to buy expensive properties in London.

The UK police described the seizure as the “largest of its kind in the UK.” Wen was found guilty of "entering into or becoming concerned in a money laundering arrangement" and is set to be sentenced on May 10.

Andrew Penhale, chief crown prosecutor at CPS, highlighted the increasing use of digital assets like Bitcoin by organized criminals to conceal and transfer illicit assets for their benefit.

Contrary to common beliefs about cryptocurrencies being a popular choice for money laundering, a recent report from the United States Treasury Department emphasized that cash remains the preferred option due to its anonymity and stability as a payment method for laundering illegal proceeds.

Nasdaq's recent “Global Financial Crime Report” did not mention Bitcoin or cryptocurrencies while presenting data on financial crime over the past year, indicating that traditional methods like cash still dominate illicit financial activities.