Tether assists U.S. law enforcement agencies in freezing over 344 million USDT related to illegal activity investigations

BlockBeats News, April 23 — Tether announced that, in coordination with the U.S. government, it has frozen over $344 million worth of USDT assets across two addresses. The action was taken after the relevant addresses were identified to prevent further transfer of funds. This freeze was based on information provided by multiple U.S. law enforcement agencies and involves funds related to illegal activities.

Tether stated that when a wallet is identified as being involved in sanctions evasion, criminal networks, or other illegal activities, the company will restrict the movement of related assets upon law enforcement request. Currently, it has cooperated with over 340 law enforcement agencies across 65 countries worldwide, supporting more than 2,300 cases with a total frozen asset value exceeding $4.4 billion, including approximately $2.1 billion related to U.S. law enforcement.

Tether emphasized that it follows the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions list rules and maintains a “zero tolerance” attitude toward using USDT for illegal activities. The company stated that the transparency of blockchain allows for the traceability of fund flows, enabling identification and freezing before further transfers occur. Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino said that USDT is not a safe haven for illegal funds; once a credible link to sanctioned entities or criminal networks is found, immediate action will be taken. This freeze is also seen as part of its long-term cooperation with the U.S. Department of Justice and other agencies.

Previous reports, according to MLM monitoring, indicated that Tether froze approximately 344 million USDT held on two addresses on the Tron chain.