Tether-backed T3 Says It Froze $450M in Illicit Crypto Funds Since 2024
Tether's T3 unit froze over $450M in illicit crypto since 2024, aiding law enforcement across 23 jurisdictions.Summary
The T3 Financial Crime Unit, a collaboration between Tether, Tron, and TRM Labs, has successfully frozen over $450 million in cryptocurrency assets suspected of being linked to criminal activities since its inception in 2024. This unit has partnered with law enforcement agencies in 23 different jurisdictions to target funds associated with drug trafficking, exchange hacks, North Korea-related activities, terrorist financing, and violent crimes like kidnappings and extortion. The T3 unit specifically focuses on Tether's USDT stablecoin transactions on the Tron blockchain and has demonstrated the ability to freeze assets within 24 hours in urgent cases upon official requests. In 2025, the unit reported intercepting 43.9% more illicit proceeds compared to the previous year. This announcement coincides with TRM Labs' estimation that global illicit crypto flows reached a record $158 billion in 2025, underscoring the increasing scrutiny on stablecoin issuers and blockchain networks to enhance compliance and cooperation with law enforcement. The T3 FCU has been recognized by the Financial Action Task Force as a valuable resource for law enforcement.
(Source：Cointelegraph)