Tether Freezes $344M USDT on Tron With OFAC, U.S. Law Enforcement

Tether confirmed on April 23 that it froze $344 million worth of USDT (USD₮) held in two Tron wallets, acting in coordination with the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and U.S. law enforcement. The wallets were flagged for activity linked to sanctions evasion and criminal networks, marking the company's largest single freeze to date. The two blacklisted addresses contained about $212.9 million and $131.3 million, respectively. Tether said U.S. authorities provided intelligence tying the wallets to unlawful activity ahead of the action, and the freeze was executed to stop further fund movements. "USD₮ is not a safe haven for illicit activity. When credible links to sanctioned entities or criminal networks are identified, we act immediately and decisively," Tether said, quoting CEO Paolo Ardoino. The company added that it now works with more than 340 law enforcement agencies across 65 countries, supporting over 2,300 cases worldwide, including more than 1,200 involving U.S. authorities. The $344 million figure surpasses the prior record of $182 million frozen across five Tron wallets in January 2026. Tether said cumulative freezes now exceed $4.4 billion in assets tied to illicit activity, with more than $2.1 billion connected to U.S. law enforcement. The U.S. Department of Justice has previously cited Tether's cooperation in enforcement actions that resulted in seizures of nearly $61 million and about $225 million tied to pig butchering fraud. The latest action adds to the case that public blockchains can provide investigators with a traceable record that traditional cash transfers do not.