Key Takeaways:
Tether froze $344 million in USDT on April 23, 2026, in coordination with OFAC and U.S. law enforcement. Tether has supported over 2,300 global cases, freezing $4.4 billion in assets, including $2.1 billion tied to U.S. agencies. CEO Paolo Ardoino signaled Tether will continue real-time monitoring and direct law enforcement coordination going forward. Tether Blocks $344M in Stablecoin Funds Linked to Sanctions Evasion and Criminal NetworksThe action was coordinated with the Office of Foreign Assets Control and multiple U.S. law enforcement agencies. Tether said it follows OFAC guidelines on the Specially Designated Nationals List and holds a zero-tolerance policy on criminal use of its products.
Combined, those cases have resulted in the freezing of more than $4.4 billion in assets, with over $2.1 billion linked directly to U.S. authorities.
The April 23 freeze fits a broader pattern of coordination between Tether and federal investigators. The U.S. Department of Justice previously acknowledged Tether’s support in two separate enforcement actions involving pig butchering fraud, which resulted in seizures of nearly $61 million and approximately $225 million, respectively.
Tether said its model centers on real-time monitoring and direct coordination with investigators during active cases. The company described that approach as different from platforms that respond only after funds have already been dispersed.
