Crypto Is Just Fake Internet Money"? Why That Defense Won't Save You in Federal Court

“As alleged, Jonathan Spalletta repeatedly hacked smart contracts to steal millions of dollars’ worth of other people’s money for himself, and destroyed a cryptocurrency exchange in the process,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.  “In describing his alleged ‘heist,’ Spalletta told another individual ‘Crypto is just fake internet money anyway.’  Stealing from a crypto exchange is stealing—the claim that ‘crypto is different’ does not change that.  For the victims, there is nothing different about having your money taken.  Spalletta cost real victims real losses of tens of millions of dollars, and now he’s under real arrest.”