U.S. Government Seizes Over $580 Million in Crypto Linked to Southeast Asian Scams

U.S. federal authorities, through the Justice Department’s Scam Center Strike Force, have frozen and seized over $580 million in cryptocurrency linked to Southeast Asian scam networks, primarily targeting U.S. victims. These operations, often described as “pig butchering” schemes, involve building trust with victims before steering them into fraudulent crypto investments on counterfeit trading platforms. The scams frequently originate from secured compounds in countries like Burma, Cambodia, and Laos, where some workers are trafficking victims forced to participate under threat of violence. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro stated that the Strike Force, formed in November, is focused on identifying senior figures, money launderers, and disrupting the financial infrastructure. The initiative involves multiple agencies, including the FBI and IRS-CI, with the goal of seeking forfeiture and returning funds to victims. This action comes as overall illicit crypto activity reached $154 billion in 2025, with Chinese money laundering networks expanding their services.

(Source：Bitcoin Magazine)