Tether, TRON, TRM Labs freeze $26m in crypto linked to criminal network across Europe

Spain’s Guardia Civil, in collaboration with Tether, TRON, and TRM Labs, froze $26.4 million in crypto linked to a European criminal network.

Spanish authorities and the T3 Financial Crime Unit blocked $26.4 million in crypto tied to a money laundering network operating across Europe. According to a Jan. 29 press release, T3 FCU — a team backed by TRON, Tether, and TRM Labs — worked with Spain’s Guardia Civil to track down crypto addresses linked to the criminal group. Officials say the organization laundered millions, converting cash into crypto for illicit purposes.

TRON founder Justin Sun admits that the operation “exposes an uncomfortable truth,” adding that “criminals are drawn to the same features that make blockchain revolutionary… but we’re showing that TRON’s transparency actually makes it harder, not easier, to launder money.”

According to a spokesperson for Spain’s Guardia Civil, the regulator used surveillance, investigative tools, and exchange KYC records to link the funds to money laundering. The spokesperson also revealed the criminal organization “moved millions across borders” but didn’t provide specifics.

As crypto.news reported earlier, the T3 Financial Crime Unit was created to fight illegal activity involving USDT on the TRON blockchain. It monitors over $3 billion in USDT transactions worldwide.

For T3 FCU, this is the biggest asset freeze since its launch in 2024. In total, the group has helped authorities freeze over $126 million linked to illicit activity across five continents. Tether chief executive Paolo Ardoino says the move is a “testament to the power of blockchain” in fighting crime, warning criminals that “those who attempt to misuse Tether will get caught.”