US Seizes $225 Million in crypto from Pig Butchering Scams
The U.S. Department of Justice has taken action against massive cryptocurrency fraud. On June 18, the U.S. Attorney’s Office filed a civil complaint to seize over $225 million in crypto. This money is linked to large-scale confidence fraud schemes.
Most of the seized funds were in Tether (USDT). Tether, a stablecoin issuer, worked with authorities to freeze these assets.The U.S. Secret Service and FBI found that these funds came from crypto scams. The DOJ says the funds were part of a global pig butchering scheme.This scheme targeted hundreds of victims worldwide.
blockchain analytics helped trace the transactions. The scammers used a complex network to hide the illicit funds. however, authorities used blockchain tools to uncover the scheme.
the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia filed the complaint. They aim to return the money to victims. U.S. Attorney Pirro stated that his office is leading the fight against crypto scams.They are partnering with law enforcement to seize stolen funds.
The FBI reported that crypto-related fraud caused over $5.8 billion in losses in 2024. Pig butchering schemes accounted for more then half of these losses.In April 2025,total crypto scam losses reached over $9 billion for 2024. The DOJ is working to make victims whole. They are seizing and forfeiting stolen funds from foreign criminals.
Key points include:
- Over $225 million in USDT was seized.
The DOJ is partnering with law enforcement to fight crypto scams. They aim to return stolen funds to victims. The FBI reported that crypto-related fraud caused over $5.8 billion in losses in 2024.
