
Do Kwon's U.S. court hearing is delayed to April 10 due to newly discovered, extensive evidence (4 terabytes).
He faces multiple legal challenges, including criminal fraud charges and a $4.5 billion SEC penalty, stemming from the Terra/Luna collapse.
Despite the delay, his final trial is still set for January 2026, and he maintains a not-guilty plea.
Terraform Labs co-founder Do Kwon
Do Kwon
Do Kwon is a former South Korean blockchain entrepreneur and investor. He co-founded Terraform Labs in 2018 and is best known for creating the Terra ecosystem to impact blockchain projects.
With the growing prominence of the innovative algorithmic stablecoin TerraUSD and its native token Luna, he initially drew significant global attention for his approach to decentralized finance.
Quick Facts
Full Name Kwon Do-Hyung Birth 06-09-1991 in Seoul, South Korea Nationality Korean (South Korea) Education Stanford University, Daewon Foreign Language High School Marital Status Married to Ms. Lee (Now separated) Net Worth $135 million (refer here)
U.S. authorities opened an investigation into Do Kwon's alleged role in staging fraudulent operations that aided in the Terra ecosystem's collapse in April 2023. As a result, many users may have lost their investments worth billions.
Do Kwon - Professional Details
2018: Co-founded Terraform Labs and launched the Terra ecosystem with its algorithmic stablecoin, TerraUSD, and token Luna.
2021: Pushed for rapid growth in decentralized finance, placing Terra as a global blockchain developer.
2022: Faced a catastrophic market collapse as TerraUSD and Luna crashed, resulting in over $40 billion in losses.
2023: Became entangled in legal cases and regulatory investigations amid allegations of fraud and market manipulation.
Do Kwon stated that he is not guilty of his charges after being extradited to the United States in January 2025. He is currently facing charges for fraud charges in US courts. With this event, the demand for clear regulations and policies of decentralized finance gained momentum.
Useful Links to Connect With Do Kwon
Platform Link X (formerly Twitter) lee (@dokwon) / X Official Website Terra.Money LinkedIn Do Kwon님 - Terraform Labs | LinkedIn
EntrepreneurCrypto and Blockchain ExpertChief Executive Officer ’s legal troubles just got even worse. His U.S. court hearing, originally set for March 6, has been postponed after prosecutors uncovered a staggering amount of new evidence. And we’re not talking about a few extra documents – this is four terabytes of fresh data that could change everything.
Here’s everything you need to know.
New Evidence Comes to Light
Judge Paul Engelmayer of the Manhattan federal court approved the delay after prosecutors disclosed that they had found an additional four terabytes of evidence. This includes data from electronic accounts and third-party entities. The discovery follows an earlier release of 600GB of evidence, which contained Kwon’s phone data, emails, and crypto transaction records.
Despite the postponement, Kwon’s final trial date remains January 26, 2026. The court has ordered both sides to submit pretrial motions by July 1, with responses due by August 11.
Do Kwon Stands Firm
Kwon has pleaded not guilty, claiming he was shocked by how the market reacted after Terra’s collapse.
His legal troubles stem from the downfall of Terraform Labs in May 2022, when the algorithmic stablecoin TerraClassicUSD (USTC) lost its peg and crashed below $0.01. The panic that followed wiped out $60 billion in market value, dragging down Terra Luna Classic (LUNC) and causing widespread investor losses.
After the collapse, Kwon moved between Singapore and Dubai before being arrested in Montenegro in March 2023 while attempting to travel with a fake Costa Rican passport. He served a four-month prison sentence before being extradited to the U.S. in December 2024.
On January 2, 2025, he appeared before a U.S. judge and pleaded not guilty to nine felony fraud charges.
SEC Hits Kwon with Billions in Penalties
Aside from the criminal case, Kwon and Terraform Labs are also facing legal action from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The SEC accused Kwon of misleading investors about Terra’s stability. In April 2024, a jury found both him and Terraform Labs guilty of defrauding investors.
Following the verdict, the SEC sought $5.3 billion in fines, calling it a conservative estimate of fraudulent gains. The court ultimately imposed a $4.5 billion penalty on Kwon and Terraform Labs.
The rise and fall of Terraform Labs is now etched in crypto history, but for Do Kwon, the final chapter is yet to be written.
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