Do Kwon Says Five-Year US Prison Term Is “Enough” Over 2022 TerraUSD Collapse

Terraform Labs co-founder Do Kwon, convicted in the U.S. for his role in the 2022 collapse of TerraUSD/LUNA, has submitted a statement arguing that a five-year prison term would suffice — despite prosecutors’ pledge deal allowing up to 12 years. The plea deal followed his 2025 guilty plea to criminal fraud charges tied to a massive, roughly US $40 billion collapse.

Nov 27, 2025 - 17:04

In May 2022, the Terra ecosystem imploded when the algorithmic stablecoin TerraUSD lost its dollar peg, causing the associated token LUNA to crash; together they wiped out nearly US $45 billion in market value.
In August 2025, U.S. prosecutors secured a plea from Do Kwon: he admitted guilt to conspiracy to defraud and wire fraud.
The plea deal stipulates that prosecutors will recommend a maximum of 12 years imprisonment, although under sentencing guidelines the official maximum exposure could be as high as 25 years.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 11, 2025 in Manhattan federal court under Judge Paul Engelmayer.

In written submissions, Kwon’s defense lawyers argue that a five-year prison sentence — minus time already served — would be “sufficient, but not greater than necessary.”
Their argument notes that Kwon has already endured nearly three years in detention, including prolonged incarceration under “brutal” conditions in Montenegro, where he was initially arrested on a forged passport.
As part of the plea agreement, he consented to forfeit over US $19 million of alleged illicit proceeds and some properties.

Some observers view the request as part of a legal strategy, perhaps aiming to highlight mitigating factors — time served abroad and cooperation — ahead of sentencing.
Others warn that the scale of losses associated with the Terra collapse and widespread global investor damage could push the court to impose a harsher sentence, especially given the fraud’s perceived gravity.
Among the broader crypto community, sentiment remains divided: some argue that any prison time is overdue, while others believe that support for severe sentencing will influence how future stable-coin issuers and crypto startups approach investor protection and transparency.

The outcome could set a precedent for how major crypto failures are punished — influencing global legal and regulatory expectations of accountability in the digital-asset sector.
A lenient sentence might spark criticism from victims worldwide and hamper efforts to restore trust in stablecoins; a stiff sentence could reinforce deterrence and investor-protection narratives.
Markets may watch closely for impacts on regulatory policies and stable-coin governance frameworks globally.