Tether said it assisted U.S. authorities in a civil‑forfeiture action that froze roughly $61 million in USDT connected to pig‑butchering money‑laundering flows. The company noted ongoing cooperation with law enforcement and its practice of freezing addresses linked to illicit activity.

On 25 February 2026 Tether acknowledged providing assistance to U.S. authorities in a civil‑forfeiture action that resulted in the seizure or freeze of approximately $61 million in USDT alleged to be linked to pig‑butchering investment and romance scams. Tether's public statement emphasized the firm's cooperation with law enforcement and its established process for freezing addresses associated with illicit activity when presented with appropriate legal orders or credible evidence. The action exemplifies continued U.S. efforts to disrupt crypto rails used to launder proceeds from large transnational frauds, combining exchange‑level controls, on‑chain tracing and legal remedies. Tether characterized the assistance as consistent with industry obligations to impede money‑laundering and illustrated how targeted freezes can interrupt cash‑out chains that scam operators rely on. Authorities signaled that civil‑forfeiture and mutual legal assistance will remain central tools alongside criminal prosecutions and international coordination to recover assets and deter large‑scale crypto‑enabled fraud.