Tether Enforces Freeze On $12 Million In Tron Funds Over Illicit Activity

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Tether acted swiftly Sunday when it froze $12.3 million worth of USDT on the Tron blockchain. Based on reports from Tronscan, this step targets wallets allegedly linked to money laundering and sanctions evasion. The company has not issued a public statement yet, but on‑chain data left little room for doubt.

T3 Financial Crime Unit Shows Muscle

According to Tether, its T3 Financial Crime Unit (FCU) partners with Tron and TRM Labs to track suspect transactions in real time. Since late 2024, the FCU has frozen over $126 million in questionable assets.

In the last quarter of that year alone, $100 million was blocked. This suggests a sharp uptick in enforcement efforts just as regulators worldwide tighten the screws.

LATEST: Tether freezes $12.3M in $USDT tied to suspicious TRON addresses. pic.twitter.com/WJr2ApEfyp

— MrRebel.eth (@rebelethpromos) June 16, 2025

Targeting High‑Risk Entities On Sanctions List

Following regulatory synchronization with the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), Tether regularly blacklists wallets associated with sanctioned entities. Individuals on the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list are the natural targets.

In March 2025, for example, Tether froze $27 million worth of USDT on the Russian-linked exchange Garantex following the EU’s 16th package of sanctions. Garantex later suspended services and claimed that over 2.5 billion rubles of user funds were held up.

Total crypto market cap currently at $3.24 trillion. Chart: TradingView

Lazarus Group Faces $374K Blacklist

Reports show that North Korea’s Lazarus Group has moved more than $3 billion in stolen crypto since 2009. In November 2023, Tether blacklisted $374,000 in USDT tied to Lazarus‑associated addresses.

Other stablecoin companies joined together to lock up $3.4 million in identical wallets. These numbers highlight how large issuers can upset state-sponsored hacking groups.

Diversifying With Gold Royalties

Tether diversified beyond digital currency on June 12, 2025, by buying a 32% equity stake in Elemental Altus Royalties. The deal involved the purchase of over 78 million shares at CAD1.55 per share, valued around $89 million.

This move to become a public gold royalty company shows Tether’s commitment to backing its stablecoin with real assets. It also shows an effort to appease risk-averse regulators that demand strong reserves.

A Dual Approach To Stablecoin Governance

As per Tether executives, this combination of tough enforcement and asset diversification can become a new benchmark. By freezing criminal funds and backing USDT with real-world value, Tether aims to strengthen confidence in its stablecoin.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Christian Encila

They say journalists never truly clock out. But for Christian, that’s not just a metaphor, it’s a lifestyle. By day, he navigates the ever-shifting tides of the cryptocurrency market, wielding words like a seasoned editor and crafting articles that decipher the jargon for the masses. When the PC goes on hibernate mode, however, his pursuits take a more mechanical (and sometimes philosophical) turn.

Christian’s journey with the written word began long before the age of Bitcoin. In the hallowed halls of academia, he honed his craft as a feature writer for his college paper. This early love for storytelling paved the way for a successful stint as an editor at a data engineering firm, where his first-month essay win funded a months-long supply of doggie and kitty treats – a testament to his dedication to his furry companions (more on that later).

Christian then roamed the world of journalism, working at newspapers in Canada and even South Korea. He finally settled down at a local news giant in his hometown in the Philippines for a decade, becoming a total news junkie. But then, something new caught his eye: cryptocurrency. It was like a treasure hunt mixed with storytelling – right up his alley!

So, he landed a killer gig at NewsBTC, where he’s one of the go-to guys for all things crypto. He breaks down this confusing stuff into bite-sized pieces, making it easy for anyone to understand (he salutes his management team for teaching him this skill).

Think Christian’s all work and no play? Not a chance! When he’s not at his computer, you’ll find him indulging his passion for motorbikes. A true gearhead, Christian loves tinkering with his bike and savoring the joy of the open road on his 320-cc Yamaha R3. Once a speed demon who hit 120mph (a feat he vowed never to repeat), he now prefers leisurely rides along the coast, enjoying the wind in his thinning hair.

Speaking of chill, Christian’s got a crew of furry friends waiting for him at home. Two cats and a dog. He swears cats are way smarter than dogs (sorry, Grizzly), but he adores them all anyway. Apparently, watching his pets just chillin’ helps him analyze and write meticulously formatted articles even better.

Here’s the thing about this guy: He works a lot, but he keeps himself fueled by enough coffee to make it through the day – and some seriously delicious (Filipino) food. He says a delectable meal is the secret ingredient to a killer article. And after a long day of crypto crusading, he unwinds with some rum (mixed with milk) while watching slapstick movies.

Looking ahead, Christian sees a bright future with NewsBTC. He says he sees himself privileged to be part of an awesome organization, sharing his expertise and passion with a community he values, and fellow editors – and bosses – he deeply respects.

So, the next time you tread into the world of cryptocurrency, remember the man behind the words – the crypto crusader, the grease monkey, and the feline philosopher, all rolled into one.

Disclaimer: The information found on NewsBTC is for educational purposes only. It does not represent the opinions of NewsBTC on whether to buy, sell or hold any investments and naturally investing carries risks. You are advised to conduct your own research before making any investment decisions. Use information provided on this website entirely at your own risk.

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