Key Takeaways
A joint financial crime unit formed by Tether, TRON, and TRM Labs has frozen more than $450 million in illicit assets since its inception in 2024, signaling a major expansion of anti-crime operations across the digital asset landscape. The initiative, known as the T3 Financial Crime Unit (T3 FCU), now coordinates with law enforcement and regulatory agencies in 23 jurisdictions.
“Compliance is not an option; it is a part of our commitment to protect our users and stop any illicit behaviors,” Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether, said in a statement. “At Tether, we take pride in working with regulators and institutions to make blockchain technology more reliable and trustworthy.”
The unit reported a 43.9 percent increase in the value of intercepted illicit proceeds in 2025 compared to the previous year. Its growing influence was recognized by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global anti-money laundering standard-setter, which cited T3 FCU as an “invaluable resource” for law enforcement. The milestone comes as illicit crypto flows reached a record $158 billion, according to FATF data, increasing pressure on platforms to enhance security. With over $88 billion of Tether’s USDT stablecoin circulating on the TRON network, the collaboration is critical for the broader stablecoin market.
This proactive enforcement posture aims to build long-term confidence in the ecosystem, but it also highlights the scale of criminal activity on major blockchain networks. The ability of an issuer to freeze assets, while effective against crime, has drawn criticism from some crypto proponents who argue such power increases centralization and undermines the permissionless nature of public blockchains. TRON maintains it is an “agnostic technology provider” and that enforcement capabilities lie with partners like Tether and law enforcement.
The T3 FCU has assisted in a wide range of investigations, including those involving terrorist financing, exchange hacks, and DPRK-linked cyber activity. In one major cross-border case, Brazil’s Operation Lusocoin, the unit helped freeze over R$3 billion in crypto assets tied to criminal organizations, which included 4.3 million USDT.
“USDT on TRON plays a central role in global transaction flows, supported by the network’s scale and efficiency,” said Justin Sun, Founder of TRON. He added that the T3 FCU demonstrates that security can be strengthened while preserving the openness that underpins blockchain technology.
Chris Janczewski, TRM’s Head of Global Investigations, said success depends on pairing real-time intelligence with coordinated public-private action. The unit has demonstrated an ability to freeze suspicious assets within 24 hours at the request of law enforcement, a rapid response aimed at disrupting criminal fund movements before they can be further obscured.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
