Prosecutors seek 20 years for Delio CEO in $181M crypto case

South Korean prosecutors are pushing for a 20-year prison sentence against Delio CEO Jung Sang-ho.

Jung is accused of embezzling about 250 billion won or $181.5 million in customer funds before the platform abruptly froze withdrawals in June 2023, leaving thousands of investors unable to access their money.

Delio’s legal team denies wrongdoing

Delio marketed itself as a high-yield crypto platform, offering returns of up to 10.7% on deposits of bitcoin, ether and other tokens. It appeared to be a stable way to earn passive income for many people. But the company was far more fragile, according to prosecutors.

A large portion of customer assets had been placed with FTX, whose collapse in late 2022 sent shockwaves through the global crypto market. When FTX went bankrupt, those funds became largely unrecoverable. Prosecutors allege Delio continued promoting its services and failed to disclose growing risks to customers.

In June 2023, Haru Invest halted withdrawals. Panic spread quickly and users rushed to pull out their funds. Days later, Delio froze withdrawals and after a couple of months the company had shut down entirely.

Authorities say Jung misled investors for a long time. He allegedly submitted a falsified audit report that overstated the company’s crypto holdings by tens of billions of won.

The fake report helped Delio secure regulatory registration and build trust with users. Prosecutors say more than 2,800 investors were affected.

Jung denies all charges and his legal team argues the collapse was caused by external shocks in global crypto markets, not deliberate wrongdoing.

Bitsonic’s CEO received seven years in prison

The case is unfolding at a time when South Korea is tightening oversight of digital assets. Under the Virtual Asset User Protection Act, which took effect in 2024, authorities now enforce stricter rules on custody, disclosures and investor protection.

Recent cases suggest courts are willing to impose tougher penalties. In one case involving Bitsonic, a CEO received a seven-year sentence for fraud. Investigations tied to the collapse of TerraUSD and Luna have also signaled a more aggressive approach by prosecutors.

If granted, the 20-year sentence requested in the Delio case would rank among the harshest penalties yet in South Korea’s crypto sector. Delio’s collapse shows deeper vulnerabilities in the crypto market.

Macro strategist Lyn Alden has emphasized bitcoin’s sensitivity to global monetary conditions, writing that it is “a global liquidity barometer,” showing changes in money supply and financial conditions.

Similarly, investor Raoul Pal has stressed the importance of liquidity in crypto markets. He said, “Liquidity is currently the most important macro factor,” because changes in liquidity drive market cycles.

The mismanagement of users funds played a role in the collapse of Delio exchange. But crypto market forces can amplify the speed and/or scale of collapses. A Seoul court will decide whether Jung receives the full 20-year sentence.

The outcome may bring some measure of accountability and could set a precedent in the industry.

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