币界网报道：British cybercriminal Kai West has been charged in the U.S. for allegedly orchestrating a $2.5 million hacking scheme targeting cryptocurrency investors. The 23-year-old from Lincolnshire, England, is accused of stealing funds through SIM-swapping attacks, where he took control of victims' phone numbers to bypass security measures and access their digital wallets. West allegedly targeted at least 15 victims between 2019 and 2021, including high-profile figures in the crypto space. U.S. prosecutors claim he worked with accomplices to launder the stolen funds through various exchanges and mixing services. If convicted, West faces up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges. The case highlights growing concerns about SIM-swapping attacks in the crypto industry, where criminals exploit telecom vulnerabilities to bypass two-factor authentication. Authorities warn investors to use hardware wallets or authentication apps instead of SMS-based security.