August 14, 2025
5 min read
Gijs O.
Binance Teams Up With Tron and Tether in Global Fight Against Crypto Crime
Binance has joined the T3 Financial Crime Unit, a coalition formed by Tron, Tether, and TRM Labs, as its first T3+ partner. This collaboration aims to combat the rapidly increasing wave of crypto hacks and illicit activities in the blockchain space. Since its launch in September 2024, the T3 Financial Crime Unit has frozen over $250 million in illicit crypto assets—more than double the $100 million frozen in its first six months. The coalition works closely with law enforcement agencies worldwide to disrupt money laundering, investment fraud, blackmail, terrorism financing, and other blockchain-based crimes.Binance Joins as First T3+ Partner
The T3+ program expands the original unit by enlisting major exchanges, financial institutions, and industry players to share intelligence and respond to threats in real time. Binance's participation marks the first expansion beyond the founding members. Justin Sun, founder of Tron, expressed enthusiasm about Binance joining the initiative, stating that it will expand “the scope of collaboration across the blockchain industry to better address illicit activity in real time.” This partnership is expected to strengthen the group’s ability to intercept suspicious transactions before they can be laundered.Crypto Hacks Are Getting Faster
A report from Swiss blockchain analytics firm Global Ledger highlights the urgency of this initiative. In the first half of 2025 alone, over $3 billion in crypto was stolen, with hackers moving stolen funds at unprecedented speeds. Some laundering operations were completed in under three minutes, and over 30% of stolen assets were moved within 24 hours. On average, stolen funds were laundered within 15 hours, and in 23% of cases, assets disappeared before the breach was publicly disclosed. Consequently, only 4.2% of stolen funds were recovered in the first half of 2025. Centralized exchanges, through which about 15% of illicit funds pass, often have just 10–15 minutes to block suspicious transfers before the assets vanish.Debate Over Stablecoin Issuers’ Power
The success of the T3 Financial Crime Unit partly depends on the ability of centralized actors to halt suspicious transactions. Recently, Tether froze nearly $86,000 in stolen USDT, reigniting debates about the balance between security and decentralization. Critics argue that allowing issuers to freeze funds undermines user sovereignty and the principles of decentralized finance. Supporters counter that such measures are essential to protect users and prevent large-scale thefts. Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino defended the practice, stating:Bad actors have nowhere to hide on the blockchain… and it’s only through collective effort that we can build a safer, more trusted environment for users worldwide.
A Growing Global Effort
With Binance joining the T3+ program and increasing collaboration among blockchain projects, exchanges, and analytics firms, the fight against crypto crime is becoming more coordinated. However, as hackers grow faster and more sophisticated, the industry faces a race against time to safeguard assets and maintain trust in the digital economy.Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
T3 Financial Crime Unit and Partnerships
Q: What is the T3 Financial Crime Unit? A: The T3 Financial Crime Unit is a coalition formed by Tron, Tether, and TRM Labs, dedicated to combating crypto hacks and illicit activities in the blockchain space. Q: Who are the partners in the T3 Financial Crime Unit? A: The founding members are Tron, Tether, and TRM Labs. Binance has recently joined as the first T3+ partner, expanding the unit's reach. Q: What is the T3+ program? A: The T3+ program is an expansion of the original T3 unit, aiming to enlist major exchanges, financial institutions, and industry players to enhance intelligence sharing and real-time threat response. Q: How much illicit crypto has the T3 Financial Crime Unit frozen? A: The unit has frozen over $250 million in illicit crypto assets to date.Crypto Crime and Security
Q: What types of blockchain-based crimes does the T3 Financial Crime Unit address? A: The unit works to disrupt money laundering, investment fraud, blackmail, terrorism financing, and other blockchain-based crimes. Q: How fast are crypto hacks and fund movements occurring? A: Reports indicate that some laundering operations are completed in under three minutes, and over 30% of stolen assets are moved within 24 hours, highlighting the urgency of rapid response. Q: What percentage of stolen funds are typically recovered? A: In the first half of 2025, only about 4.2% of stolen funds were recovered. Q: What is the challenge for centralized exchanges in blocking suspicious transfers? A: Centralized exchanges often have a very narrow window, typically 10-15 minutes, to block suspicious transfers before assets disappear.Stablecoins and Decentralization
Q: What is the debate surrounding stablecoin issuers' power? A: The ability of stablecoin issuers like Tether to freeze funds to combat illicit activities sparks debate about balancing security with the principles of decentralization and user sovereignty. Q: What is Tether's stance on freezing USDT? A: Tether's CEO, Paolo Ardoino, defends the practice, stating it's essential for building a safer, more trusted environment by preventing bad actors from hiding on the blockchain.Crypto Market AI's Take
The growing collaboration between major players like Binance, Tron, and Tether, supported by analytics firms like TRM Labs, is a crucial step in professionalizing the fight against cryptocurrency crime. This coordinated effort, particularly the expansion through programs like T3+, signifies a maturing industry that recognizes the need for collective action against illicit activities. The speed at which stolen funds are moved underscores the importance of real-time intelligence sharing and rapid response capabilities, areas where AI-driven analytics and blockchain monitoring tools play a vital role. While debates around stablecoin issuer powers continue, the trend points towards a greater emphasis on practical security measures to foster wider adoption and trust in the digital asset ecosystem.More to Read:
- How AI is Revolutionizing Crypto Trading Strategies
- Understanding the Latest Crypto Regulations
- The Importance of Security in Cryptocurrency Wallets
Source: Originally published at Cointribune on Thu, 14 Aug 2025 12:05:00 GMT