Coinbase Assisted Authorities in $225 Million Cryptocurrency Seizure

Coinbase Assisted Authorities in $225 Million Cryptocurrency Seizure
United States authorities, with the assistance of cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase, have seized $225 million worth of digital assets allegedly stolen through "pig butchering" investment scams, announced the U.S. Department of Justice on June 25, 2025. This seizure represents the largest ever forfeiture of funds related to cryptocurrency confidence scams in U.S. history and demonstrates that cooperation between law enforcement and regulated cryptocurrency exchanges is critical in combating digital asset crimes, particularly those involving Tether (USDT) stablecoin.

Part of the seized $225.3 million in cryptocurrency is linked to accounts on the Coinbase exchange and was identified during an investigation by the U.S. Secret Service, in which Coinbase experts provided crucial assistance in uncovering the "pig butchering" fraud scheme. In these scams, criminals build trust with victims over an extended period, often creating the appearance of a romantic relationship, before encouraging them to invest in seemingly legitimate cryptocurrency platforms that are actually fraudulent websites, with victims' deposits going directly to accounts controlled by the scammers. The civil forfeiture complaint filed by the Department of Justice in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia seeks to forfeit the seized assets pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 981(a)(1)(A) for violations of money laundering statutes.

According to authorities, Coinbase played an active role in the investigation, and the transparency of blockchains combined with cooperation from regulated cryptocurrency exchanges is making it increasingly difficult for criminals to hide stolen assets. The partnership between Coinbase and government agencies is part of a growing trend of legitimate cryptocurrency industry players working with authorities to combat financial crimes, and this significant seizure shows that authorities are becoming more effective at detecting blockchain-based financial crimes that were previously difficult to trace. This success highlights the increasing role of AI and other advanced technologies in fighting cryptocurrency-related crimes, as well as the importance of international cooperation, as these scams are often perpetrated by organisations spanning multiple countries.

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The Justice Department filed a civil forfeiture complaint Wednesday (June 18) targeting over $225.3 million in cryptocurrency that it said is connected to

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Largest Ever Seizure of Funds Related to Crypto Confidence Scams

The U.S. Attorney’s Office filed a civil forfeiture complaint in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against more than $225.3 million in cryptocurrency. According to the complaint, the U.S. Secret Service and the FBI used blockchain analysis and other investigative techniques to determine that the cryptocurrency is connected to the theft and laundering of funds

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Justice Department seizes millions of dollars linked to alleged crypto investment scams

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Coinbase Helps US Secret Service Recover $225 M in USDT Tied to Pig Butchering Scams