Tether Invests in Crystal Intelligence to Combat Crypto Crime

Tether, a prominent stablecoin issuer, has made a strategic investment in Crystal Intelligence, a blockchain analytics firm specializing in fraud detection and compliance tools. This move is part of Tether's broader efforts to enhance its capabilities in combating crypto-related crimes and supporting global law enforcement.

The investment in Crystal Intelligence is a response to the escalating threat of crypto crime. In 2024, the FBI reported over $9.3 billion in cryptocurrency-related scam losses, marking a significant increase from the previous year. Tether has been proactive in supporting law enforcement officials and investigations into criminals abusing stablecoin technology. To date, Tether has assisted more than 255 law enforcement agencies across 55 jurisdictions and has frozen over $2.7 billion USDT tied to illicit activity.

This strategic investment reinforces the investigative tools used by enforcement agencies, regulators, and institutions worldwide. It builds on the ongoing collaboration between Tether and Crystal Intelligence to enhance intelligence capabilities. Notably, both organizations have supported the development of Scam Alert, a public-facing platform that flags wallet addresses associated with scams and abusive activity in real time.

Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether, emphasized the company's commitment to supporting law enforcement agencies in their efforts to combat illicit activity. "With the latest in advanced intelligence tools, like those being developed by Crystal Intelligence, we are enhancing our ability to assist authorities in tracing the movement of funds in real time," Ardoino stated. "Tether has already contributed to freezing billions in unlawful funds and has supported investigations across dozens of jurisdictions. This strategic investment will strengthen our capacity to collaborate more effectively and reinforce a clear message: misuse USDT, and law enforcement will find you."

Navin Gupta, CEO of Crystal Intelligence, echoed the sentiment, stating, "As the crypto industry matures, so must its foundations of trust and intelligence. Tether’s backing is both a validation of the work we’ve done together and a joint commitment to future-proofing the industry through actionable insight, integrity, and innovation. We see too many players waiting for mandates. At Crystal, we believe responsible innovation means getting ahead of threats, and not just reacting to them."

The investment in Crystal Intelligence complements Tether’s broader compliance-focused infrastructure strategy. This latest initiative reflects Tether’s ongoing commitment to proactive crime prevention, global enforcement cooperation, and the responsible growth of the digital asset ecosystem. By strengthening its partnership with Crystal Intelligence, Tether aims to provide real-time risk monitoring and fraud detection tools, further supporting global law enforcement agencies in their efforts to freeze illicit funds and combat crypto crime.