Compliance Issues in Web3 Entrepreneurship from the Disputes Among Founders of a Certain Platform

Recently, the dispute between a certain platform founder Zhang and Wang has attracted widespread attention. This commercial dispute eventually escalated into a criminal case, sparking differing opinions and comments. As a criminal lawyer focusing on the Web3 field, although I am not directly involved in this case, based on my understanding of Web3 entrepreneurs and my past experience handling related cases, I would like to share some views on the compliance issues that should be considered in Web3 entrepreneurship.

I. Case Overview

According to reports from multiple media outlets, a certain TON ecological mini-game platform faced issues due to a business dispute between partners Zhang and Wang, which led to Zhang's arrest by the police in Hangzhou on February 12, 2025, on suspicion of the crime of "illegally obtaining data from computer information systems." The next day, Zhang was taken to Shanghai. It should be noted that criminal cases usually go through several stages such as police investigation and prosecution by the procuratorate before entering the court trial phase, and the entire process often takes more than six months.

According to public reports, there is a dispute between the two parties regarding the identity of Zhang. Zhang's team believes he is at the partner level, while Wang denies this claim, asserting that Zhang is merely utilizing the community resources he controls to demand excessive compensation. After the negotiations between the two parties failed, the team led by Zhang removed the data account permissions of the software owner in November 2024, which may have led to the occurrence of the case.

II. Analysis of the Crime of Illegally Obtaining Data from Computer Information Systems

Zhang is currently suspected of the crime of "illegally obtaining data from computer information systems." This crime is stipulated in the second clause of Article 285 of our criminal law, which mainly targets acts that violate national regulations, intrude into computer information systems related to non-state affairs, national defense construction, and cutting-edge scientific and technological fields, or use other technical means to obtain system data and illegally control the system. Those with serious circumstances will face criminal penalties.

According to the current judicial interpretation, the standard for "seriously serious circumstances" includes obtaining a certain amount of identity verification information, illegal gains, or causing economic losses that reach a specific amount. "Especially serious circumstances" are more than five times the above standards. Specifically related to the case of Zhang, it may involve illegal gains or economic losses.

3. Web3 Startup Compliance Recommendations

In the Web3 entrepreneurship field, the lack of clear equity arrangements during the startup phase often leads to disputes among partners as project profits increase later on. These disputes may not only involve common crimes such as embezzlement and tax-related offenses, but with the rise of Web3 enterprises, some computer-related crimes have also begun to emerge in shareholder disputes.

To avoid similar risks, Web3 entrepreneurs should:

1. Pay attention to pre-compliance and improve necessary legal documents. Do not rely solely on templates downloaded from the internet; it is best to have them drafted or reviewed by a professional lawyer.

2. Clarify core issues such as equity distribution and division of responsibilities at the early stage of entrepreneurship to avoid disputes arising from unclear distribution of interests in the future.

3. Hire professional legal advisors, especially lawyers who are familiar with the Web3 field and have experience in criminal defense. They can not only help mitigate potential legal risks but also intervene early in disputes to prevent the situation from worsening.

4. Establish a sound corporate governance structure and internal control system to ensure the transparency and规范性 of the company's operations.

5. Regularly conduct legal risk assessments to timely identify and address potential legal issues.

6. Strengthen the protection of core technologies and data, and establish a strict access control management system.

7. For operations involving user data, it is essential to strictly comply with relevant laws and regulations to avoid crossing the legal red line of illegally obtaining or using personal information.

8. In business negotiations and collaborations, maintain a cautious attitude, and important decisions should have written records and legal support.

Through the above measures, Web3 entrepreneurs can significantly reduce legal risks and lay a solid legal foundation for the long-term development of their businesses. In the rapidly evolving Web3 field, Compliance is not only a legal requirement but also an important guarantee for the sustainable development of enterprises.