Tether, the world’s largest stablecoin issuer, has announced a freeze on 32 blockchain addresses with connections to terrorist groups in both Israel and Ukraine.
In a Monday statement, the company said it has been combatting crypto-funded crime in collaboration with Israel’s National Bureau for Counter Terror Financing (NBCTF). In total, the frozen addresses hold $873,118.34 worth of assets.
“Tether’s ability to freeze and return stolen funds to legitimate users demonstrates the innovative new capabilities and level of security that blockchain technologies can bring to the global financial system,” the statement read.
Canadian Court Freezes Millions in Convoy Protestor Funds—Including Bitcoin
An Ontario Superior Court judge has issued an order to freeze millions of dollars in funds, including some in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency, as Ottowa’s convoy protests continue, per The Globe and Mail. The freezing order—otherwise known as a Mareva injunction—was made late yesterday evening as part of the wider lawsuit filed against the convoy by the residents of Ottawa. “I can confirm that this is the first successful. Mareva order in Canada targeting Bitcoin and cryptocurrency exchanges,...
Unlike more traditional cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), stablecoins—such as Tether’s USDT—are directly issued by centralized entities, and backed by centralized reserves of real-world assets. In practice, that means users holding stablecoins can be programmatically frozen out of their money at government request, much like traditional bank deposits.
Tether has previously used its powers to freeze millions of dollars lost to both DeFi hackers and phishing scammers. However, it refused to freeze addresses tied to privacy protocol Tornado Cash after the U.S. Treasury placed sanctions on it last year, despite rival stablecoin issuer Circle opting to comply with the sanctions.
Despite US Sanctions, Tether Continues To Support Tornado Cash: Report
The world’s largest stablecoin issuer, Tether, may not be complying with the U.S. Treasury Department’s sanctions against crypto transaction privacy mixer Tornado Cash, according to a report today from the Washington Post. The publication cites analysis of data from crypto intelligence firm Dune Analytics to state that the Hong Kong-based Tether has not blacklisted any accounts associated with Tornado Cash. Tether’s Chief Technology Officer, Paolo Ardoino, told the publication that Tether has...
Altogether, Tether has complied with 31 different agencies across the world from nations like the United States, Canada, Brazil, South Korea, and others to freeze over $835 million in criminal-connected crypto to date.
“Contrary to popular belief, cryptocurrency transactions are not anonymous; they are the most traceable and trackable assets,” explained Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino in a statement. “Criminals foolish enough to employ cryptocurrencies for illegal activities will inevitably be identified.”
Pro-Russia Groups Raise $2M in Bitcoin, Ethereum to Fund War: Chainalysis
Both sides of the Russia-Ukraine conflict are being funded by crypto. Over 54 pro-Russian volunteer groups have cumulatively sourced $2.2 million in cryptocurrency donations to fund war efforts in Ukraine, according to a report from Chainalysis on Friday. The blockchain analytics firm said that the vast majority of funds were sent in Bitcoin ($1.45 million) and Ethereum ($590,000), with “considerable quantities” sent in Tether, Litecoin, and Dogecoin as well. Most of the funds were donated to j...
Following deadly attacks from Hamas against Israel earlier this month, Israeli authorities froze crypto accounts suspected of being connected to Hamas, including those on crypto exchanges like Binance.
Data from Chainalysis indicates that crypto has helped Hamas secure tens of thousands of dollars in Bitcoin donations since 2019. Pro-Russian groups in the Russia-Ukraine conflict have also used over $2 million raised in Bitcoin and Ethereum to help fund their war effort.
Edited by Stacy Elliott.
