A 22-year-old Canadian mathematics prodigy is facing multiple criminal charges in the United States for allegedly stealing approximately $65 million through cryptocurrency exploits.
Andean "Andy" Medjedovic, who completed both his bachelor's and master's degrees in mathematics at the University of Waterloo by age 19, is accused of conducting two major attacks on decentralized finance platforms.
According to U.S. court documents, Medjedovic first allegedly exploited Indexed Finance in October 2021, obtaining $16.5 million in digital tokens through complex trading maneuvers. When offered to keep 10% as a "bug bounty" and return the rest, he refused and went into hiding.
Two years later, in November 2023, authorities claim Medjedovic struck again, this time targeting KyberSwap and allegedly stealing $48.4 million with help from an unnamed relative.
The former child prodigy now faces five criminal charges including wire fraud, attempted extortion, and money laundering. If convicted, he could face decades in prison.
Medjedovic, who entered university at age 14 and achieved exceptional scores in prestigious mathematics competitions, reportedly justified his actions through the controversial "Code is Law" philosophy - arguing that if the platform's code allowed certain actions, they were legitimate.
Last summer, Medjedovic was briefly detained in an undisclosed European country but avoided extradition. He remains a fugitive from U.S. authorities, who cannot proceed with the case until he is in custody.
The case highlights growing concerns about cryptocurrency security and raises questions about how legal systems should handle sophisticated digital financial crimes. While U.S. prosecutors pursue criminal charges, Canadian authorities have faced criticism for their limited action in the matter.
Despite the serious allegations, Medjedovic appears optimistic about his situation, suggesting recent changes in U.S. cryptocurrency enforcement might work in his favor.