23 April 2026 – Tether announced today that it has supported the U.S. Government in freezing $344 million USD₮ across two addresses. The freeze was executed after the addresses were identified, preventing further movement of funds.
The freeze follows information shared with Tether by several U.S. authorities about activity tied to unlawful conduct. When wallets are identified as connected to sanctions evasion, criminal networks, or other illicit activity, Tether can move to restrict those assets. That work has become a routine part of the company’s response to lawful requests from authorities in the U.S. and abroad. To date, Tether works with more than 340 law enforcement agencies in 65 countries. In practice, this means coordinating directly with investigators during active cases, rather than reacting after funds have been dispersed.
Tether maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward the criminal use of our financial products, including USDT, and has long followed OFAC guidelines regarding the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List. We work closely with law enforcement globally to identify and, upon request, freeze assets to prevent further movement when they are linked to illegal activity or illicit actors.
Tether works with more than 340 law enforcement agencies across 65 countries. That cooperation has supported more than 2,300 cases globally, including over 1,200 tied to U.S. law enforcement, and has led to the freezing of more than $4.4 billion in assets, including over $2.1 billion connected to U.S. authorities.
Public blockchains also give investigators and issuers something cash cannot, which is a visible trail. Transactions can be followed, wallets can be flagged, and assets can be frozen before they are moved further.
“USD₮ is not a safe haven for illicit activity,” said Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether. When credible links to sanctioned entities or criminal networks are identified, we act immediately and decisively. Recent events have shown what happens when platforms fail to move quickly, enforcement breaks down, users are exposed, and trust erodes. Our approach is different. We combine blockchain transparency with real-time monitoring and direct coordination with law enforcement to stop funds before they can move. That’s a responsibility we take seriously as one of the largest issuers in the market.”
This latest action is part of a broader pattern of cooperation between Tether and U.S. law enforcement authorities. The U.S. Department of Justice previously acknowledged Tether’s support in enforcement actions that resulted in the seizure of nearly $61 million and approximately $225 million tied to pig butchering fraud. Those cases, like this one, show that digital assets on public blockchains are not beyond reach when issuers and law enforcement work together.
