EL7.AI
CryptoUpdated•Originally published 15 June 2026•Updated 15 June 2026•
1 min read

Tether Freezes $72M USDT in Monero-Linked Money Laundering Sting

A safe encased in a block of ice with the Tether logo and '$72M Frozen' text against an orange background.

Key Facts

1Tether reportedly froze approximately $72 million in USDT as part of a money laundering sting involving Monero.

In a move highlighting the strict centralized oversight of stablecoins, Tether has frozen approximately $72 million in USDT. According to reports, this action was part of a money laundering sting linked to the Monero network. The freeze followed a complex routing operation where actors attempted to move $120.2 million through Monero to obscure transaction trails before Tether intervened to disable access to the linked assets.

This intervention occurs as privacy-focused cryptocurrencies face mounting regulatory pressure, with Monero (XMR) being delisted from major exchanges like Binance and OKX over the past year to meet anti-money laundering standards. Per market data, Tether remains the most proactive stablecoin issuer in cooperating with authorities, having frozen over $1.3 billion in addresses linked to illicit activities since its inception, according to company transparency reports.

Looking ahead, traders are monitoring the USDT peg at $1.00 (close June 15, 2026) amid these enforcement actions. According to the economic calendar, recent U.S. inflation data, with the annual CPI hitting 4.2% on June 10, 2026, continues to influence risk appetite across digital asset markets. Investors should watch for further legal updates that could lead to additional liquidity freezes in wallets associated with the identified networks.