Tether and OKX Collaborate with U.S. DOJ to Voluntarily Freeze 225M USDT Tied to International Crime Syndicate After Joint Investigations

Tether and global crypto exchange OKX have collaborated with the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), leading to the voluntary freezing of approximately 225 million USDT tokens in connection to an international human trafficking syndicate. This joint effort, facilitated by blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis, marks the largest-ever USDT freeze, as per the recent announcement by Tether.

During the investigation, Tether and OKX proactively alerted U.S. law enforcement agencies to illicit funds' location through blockchain analysis, resulting in a freeze request by the U.S. Secret Service and a voluntary freeze by Tether. The frozen wallets are unrelated to Tether's customers, and Tether commits to working swiftly to unfreeze any lawful wallets captured. This collaboration exemplifies how cryptocurrency industry players can effectively cooperate with law enforcement to deter criminal activities.

Tether emphasizes its commitment to setting industry safety standards through proactive engagement and transparency. OKX echoes this commitment, emphasizing its proactive role in initiatives that build trust in the crypto industry.

Tether maintains industry integrity through strict KYC and AML protocols, including collaboration with law enforcement to investigate suspicious transactions. Tether pledges prompt collaboration with law enforcement and wallet owners to address concerns related to lawful wallets affected by these freezes.

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