In the largest-ever crypto seizure, US authorities recover $225 million stolen through international cryptocurrency investment fraud schemes affecting over 400 victims worldwide.
FBI and Secret Service Lead Landmark Crypto Seizure Effort
New York – June 20, 2025
The United States government has announced its largest-ever seizure of stolen cryptocurrency, recovering a staggering $225 million in connection with a global investment scam that defrauded hundreds of victims.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the US Attorney’s Office confirmed that the funds were retrieved following a coordinated investigation involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the US Secret Service. The agencies used blockchain analysis and other forensic tools to trace the stolen assets, which were hidden across a complex web of digital transactions.
The recovered amount stems from what officials described as an extensive cryptocurrency investment fraud, where victims believed they were making legitimate investments in digital assets. In reality, the operation was an elaborate scam.
Victims Spanned the Globe
According to the US Attorney’s Office, dozens of individuals in the United States and over 400 people worldwide fell prey to the scheme. Many were led to believe they were participating in secure and promising cryptocurrency ventures.
Authorities revealed that the scam was enabled by an advanced, blockchain-based laundering network. The perpetrators used hundreds of thousands of transactions to obscure the origin and flow of the stolen money, making the trail extremely difficult to follow.
“These scams prey on trust, often resulting in extreme financial hardship for the victims,” said Shawn Bradstreet, Special Agent in Charge of the US Secret Service’s San Francisco office.
Efforts Underway to Return Funds
While the announcement did not clarify whether any arrests had been made, US officials expressed hope that the recovered money could be returned to the victims in due course.
“The recovery of these funds is a significant step in holding fraudsters accountable and delivering justice to those affected,” Bradstreet added.
The announcement also underscored the broader threat of digital financial fraud. In 2024 alone, cryptocurrency-related investment scams resulted in over $5.8 billion in reported losses, according to government data cited in the statement.
A Wake-Up Call for Crypto Investors
The record-breaking seizure highlights the growing sophistication of financial fraud in the digital age. With cryptocurrency markets continuing to expand, US enforcement agencies are ramping up efforts to protect investors and prosecute those who exploit the system.
Authorities urge investors to conduct thorough due diligence before committing to crypto investments and to report suspicious activity promptly. The Department of Justice said investigations into related scams are ongoing.
