Prosecutors request February or March retrial for MEV bot brothers
Anton and James Peraire-Bueno, brothers accused of money laundering and fraud involving a $25 million Ethereum blockchain exploit, could face a retrial in February or March 2026 after a mistrial was declared due to jurors being unable to reach a verdict. The brothers are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, and receiving stolen property linked to the use of MEV bots to exploit digital assets. A guilty verdict could have implications for Ethereum trading, with the brothers facing potential decades-long prison sentences. Jurors reported emotional and psychological difficulties during deliberations, but no new retrial date has been set yet.
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Peraire-Bueno Brothers Indicted for Blockchain Exploit
Anton and James Peraire-Bueno, two brothers indicted for their alleged role in money laundering and fraud involving a $25 million exploit of the Ethereum blockchain, could face a second trial as early as February. In a Monday filing in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, lawyers representing the US government requested a federal judge to schedule a retrial for the Peraire-Bueno brothers “as soon as practicable in late February or early March 2026.”
Mistrial Declared in Initial Trial
The request for a new trial came about three days after a judge declared a mistrial, following the jurors’ inability to reach a verdict. Source: Courtlistener.
Allegations and Charges Against the Brothers
The brothers were charged with:
- Conspiracy to commit wire fraud,
- Money laundering,
- Conspiracy to receive stolen property, related to their role in using maximal extractable value (MEV) bots to exploit $25 million in digital assets in 2023. The case has drawn significant attention from the crypto industry, with concerns over its implications for trading on Ethereum.
Potential Consequences of a Guilty Verdict
If found guilty during retrial, the brothers could face decades in prison. Many are closely watching the case for insights into future legal and regulatory consequences for Ethereum and blockchain trading practices.
Related: SEC chair pledges no ‘lax enforcement’ on crypto under market structure.
Jury's Struggles During Deliberations
The jury deliberated for more than three days before reporting their inability to reach a verdict. They requested clarifications on testimony and the definition of “good faith” during this period. A letter from the jury highlighted the emotional toll of the process:
“Yesterday, half of the jury spontaneously broke down in tears, and several members of the jury have reported multiple nights of sleeplessness. While this is a lesser concern, we have all endured the financial and psychological hardship of being sequestered from our jobs and family for nearly a month.”
Awaiting a Potential Retrial Date
As of Wednesday, the judge had not yet announced a possible retrial date. This leaves significant uncertainty about how the case will proceed in the coming months.
Big Questions for the Future
The case ties into broader discussions about the impact of blockchain technology on legal frameworks and financial systems. Magazine: Big Questions: Did a time-traveling AI invent Bitcoin?