Key facts
- Zyaire Wilkins, 21, was arrested in North Lauderdale, Florida.
- He is accused of operating a scheme that embedded crypto-stealing malware in video games.
- The operation infected roughly 8,000 devices and compromised about 80 cryptocurrency wallets.
- At least $220,000 was stolen between May 2024 and February 2026.
- Wilkins faces a charge of conspiracy to obtain information by computer for private financial gain.
Federal agents have arrested Zyaire Dontaevious Zamarion Wilkins, a 21-year-old from North Lauderdale, Florida, in connection with a scheme that allegedly embedded cryptocurrency-stealing malware within online video games. According to an FBI complaint, the operation infected approximately 8,000 devices and compromised about 80 crypto wallets, resulting in the theft of at least $220,000 between May 2024 and February 2026.
Wilkins is charged with conspiracy to obtain information by computer for private financial gain, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The complaint details how the group marketed these malware-laced games, including titles like PirateFi, BlockBlasters, Dashverse, and Lunara, across platforms such as Discord, Telegram, X, and LinkedIn. They allegedly used bots to identify users with significant crypto holdings and encouraged them to download the games. Once installed, the malware was designed to harvest private data and login credentials to access victims' crypto accounts.
Investigators reportedly identified Wilkins by tracing Bitcoin transactions from the scheme's wallet to Bitrefill, where the funds were used to purchase over 150 gift cards, primarily for Uber Eats. A subpoena to Uber linked these cards to deliveries at Wilkins' home and his university addresses. During a search of his home, agents seized multiple devices and three wallet seed phrases, including one for Monero, a privacy coin noted for its difficulty in tracing. A review of Wilkins' crypto history revealed approximately $382,000 in transactions.
This arrest appears to be the first stemming from an FBI investigation initiated in March, which sought information from gamers affected by malicious titles on Steam. These games were approved for sale and appeared legitimate but contained info-stealers. The game BlockBlasters alone reportedly drained over $32,000 from a streamer during a live charity event.