From Cointelegraph

June 16, 2025 5:11 am:

Tether freezes $12.3 million USDT on Tron Network due to concerns over sanctions violations or AML risks. The freeze aligns with the US Treasury’s OFAC sanctions list. The freezing policy aims to combat money laundering, nuclear proliferation, and terrorist financing.

Garantex crypto exchange had $27 million USDT frozen by Tether, leading the exchange to halt operations. OFAC placed sanctions on Garantex in April 2022 for disregarding AML and regulatory requirements. Despite the freeze, over $15 million in active reserves linked to Garantex were identified.

Tether’s asset-freezing ability has prevented hundreds of millions of dollars in illicit crypto laundering. The T3 Financial Crimes Unit, involving Tether, Tron Network, and TRM Labs, froze $126 million USDT in its first six months. The unit assists law enforcement in freezing illicit transactions, crucial in combating groups like Lazarus.

The Lazarus Group laundered over $200 million in stolen crypto between 2020 and 2023. Tether blacklisted over $374,000 of stolen funds in November 2023, while three out of four stablecoin issuers blacklisted an additional $3.4 million linked to Lazarus. Lazarus is a notorious group of crypto hackers, stealing over $3 billion in assets.

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