Tether T3 Crime Unit Freezes $300M Illicit USDT

Tether’s T3 Financial Crime Unit, launched with the TRON network and TRM Labs, froze over $300 million in illicit crypto assets across 23 jurisdictions during its first year. The public–private anti-money laundering initiative worked with US, European and South American law enforcement to target hacks, scams and money laundering. In the US alone, the unit supported the seizure of $83 million across 37 cases, while Brazil’s Operation Lusocoin immobilized more than R$3 billion in assets, including 4.3 million USDT linked to criminal networks. Data from the T3 Financial Crime Unit indicate that stablecoins featured in 39% of investigated illegal goods and services transactions. A prominent $19 million confiscation resulted from a DPRK-linked hack on the Bybit exchange. In August 2025, Binance joined the expanded T3+ Global Collaborator Program, and partners showcased the model at Europol’s Vienna conference. For crypto traders, the enhanced oversight by the T3 Financial Crime Unit could boost USDT’s credibility, increase compliance checks and inform risk management strategies. Analysts say continued public–private collaboration may reduce criminal anonymity on the blockchain and strengthen overall market security.