Tron, Tether, and TRM Labs have announced that their joint financial crime unit has frozen more than $250 million in illicit crypto assets since its launch less than a year ago. The unit is now expanding its reach through a new program called T3+, which brings Binance on board as its first member. Launched in September 2024, the T3 Financial Crime Unit (T3 FCU) is a public-private initiative designed to track and disrupt illicit blockchain transactions. The $250 million frozen is more than double the amount reported in the first six months after T3 FCU’s launch. In January 2025, the unit disclosed it had intercepted over $100 million in illicit assets since its August 2024 debut. The unit has collaborated with law enforcement agencies worldwide on cases involving money laundering, investment fraud, blackmail operations, terrorism financing, and other financial crimes. The newly unveiled T3+ program builds on the existing framework by enlisting exchanges, financial institutions, and other industry players globally to share intelligence and respond to threats in real time. According to Tron founder Justin Sun, the new unit will expand “the scope of collaboration across the blockchain industry to better address illicit activity in real time.”

Wave of Faster Crypto Attacks Leaves Little Time to Recover Funds

This expansion comes amid a surge of increasingly sophisticated crypto hacks. A report from Global Ledger, a Swiss blockchain analytics company, revealed that over $3 billion in crypto was stolen in the first half of 2025, with hackers moving funds faster than ever. The report highlighted that some hacks saw laundering completed in under three minutes, with over 30% of laundering done within 24 hours. On average, stolen funds were moved about 15 hours after a breach, and in roughly 23% of cases, stolen crypto was fully laundered before the hack was even publicly disclosed. Due to this rapid movement, only 4.2% of stolen funds were recovered in the first half of 2025. The study also found that approximately 15% of illicit crypto flowed through centralized exchanges, where compliance teams typically have only 10 to 15 minutes to intercept suspicious transfers before the assets disappear. Many attacks have been linked to state-sponsored hacking groups, cybercrime syndicates, and foreign-based fraud networks operating across jurisdictions, complicating recovery and enforcement efforts. A recent example involved hackers breaching a major North Korean cyber-espionage operation, exposing tactics used by the regime to target cryptocurrency platforms worldwide. This underscores how nation-state actors are evolving their methods alongside the broader surge in crypto crimes.

Debate Grows Over Stablecoin Issuers’ Power to Freeze Funds

While the T3 FCU has recovered significant sums and its partnership with Binance could enhance its effectiveness in stopping hacks, the practice of stablecoin issuers and centralized exchanges freezing funds is controversial. Last month, Tether froze nearly $86,000 in stolen USDt, sparking renewed debate over centralized control in stablecoin ecosystems. Because issuers can halt transactions at the smart contract level, they have a unique ability in crypto to intercept stolen funds. However, this power also raises concerns about user sovereignty and the decentralized principles foundational to the industry. Some defend this power as necessary. Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether, stated, “Bad actors have nowhere to hide on the blockchain… and that it’s only through collective effort that we can build a safer, more trusted environment for users worldwide.”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the T3 Financial Crime Unit (T3 FCU)?

The T3 FCU is a public-private initiative launched in September 2024 by Tron, Tether, and TRM Labs. Its primary goal is to track and disrupt illicit blockchain transactions.

How much illicit crypto has the T3 FCU frozen?

Since its launch less than a year ago, the T3 FCU has frozen over $250 million in illicit crypto assets.

What types of financial crimes does the T3 FCU investigate?

The unit collaborates with law enforcement agencies globally on cases involving money laundering, investment fraud, blackmail, terrorism financing, and other financial crimes.

What is the T3+ program?

The T3+ program is an expansion of the T3 FCU, enlisting global exchanges, financial institutions, and industry players to enhance intelligence sharing and real-time threat response. Binance is the first member to join this expanded program.

Why are crypto hacks becoming more sophisticated and faster?

Recent reports indicate a surge in sophisticated crypto hacks with funds being laundered in minutes. This rapid movement makes fund recovery more challenging, with only a small percentage of stolen assets being recovered.

What is the debate surrounding stablecoin issuers freezing funds?

While freezing funds can help recover stolen assets, it raises concerns about centralized control within the blockchain ecosystem and user sovereignty, which are core principles of the industry.

Crypto Market AI's Take

The expansion of the T3 Financial Crime Unit with the T3+ program, including Binance, signifies a critical step towards enhanced security and combating illicit activities within the rapidly evolving cryptocurrency landscape. As the original article highlights, the speed and sophistication of crypto attacks are escalating, making collaborative efforts and advanced analytics essential. Our platform leverages cutting-edge AI to not only monitor market trends but also to identify and flag suspicious activities, thereby contributing to a safer blockchain environment. We believe that the integration of robust compliance measures with innovative AI solutions is key to fostering trust and sustainability in the digital asset space.

Crypto crime unit with 50M in seizures expands with Binance