Crypto task force: how T3 FCU works and why it matters

The international T3 Financial Crime Unit (T3 FCU), launched by Tether, TRON, and blockchain intelligence platform TRM Labs, says it has frozen over $450 million linked to illegal activity in the crypto sector. GetBlock AML Research explains how the specialized unit operates and why it has become an important tool in fighting crypto crime.

Global Cooperation in Crypto Investigations

In 2025, T3 FCU took part in investigations involving illegal and controlled substances, crypto exchange hacks, North Korea-linked operations, terrorism financing, violent crimes, and so-called “wrench attacks” — incidents where crypto holders are forced to hand over wallet access through threats, kidnappings, home invasions, or extortion.

According to the organization, the amount of illicit crypto funds intercepted in 2025 increased by 43.9% compared to the previous year. Law enforcement agencies from the United States, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, and Bulgaria were among the most active participants in these investigations. These countries also ranked among the leaders in the total value of frozen criminal assets.

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Members of the initiative say the increase reflects a growing ability to stop criminal operations before they evolve into larger schemes or cause major financial damage. At the same time, the share of legitimate digital asset activity continues to grow.

In practice, T3 FCU acts as a bridge between government agencies and the crypto industry, combining international coordination, blockchain analytics, and rapid response measures to improve security across digital asset markets.

Earlier in 2025, the group’s work was recognized by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global organization focused on combating money laundering and terrorism financing. In its report, FATF described T3 FCU as “a valuable resource for law enforcement agencies worldwide.”

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In a separate report on public-private sector cooperation, FATF also highlighted T3 FCU and TRM’s Beacon Network as leading global mechanisms for combating illicit crypto activity.

With illegal crypto flows reaching a record $158 billion, demand for faster detection and freezing of criminal funds continues to rise. Speed has become one of the key factors in disrupting these operations.

One of T3 FCU’s main priorities is a rapid-response system for sharing intelligence and freezing suspicious USDT transactions on the TRON network. The organization says that in some cases assets were frozen in less than 24 hours after requests from law enforcement, including during investigations involving account takeovers and violent crimes.

The group also participated in Operation Lusocoin, a major investigation led by Brazil’s Federal Police. Working alongside local authorities and financial institutions, investigators froze more than 3 billion Brazilian reais in crypto assets, including 4.3 million USDT tied to a criminal network.

The case became another example of how important international cooperation between governments and private companies has become for maintaining blockchain security and financial transparency.

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What We Know About T3 FCU

Since launching in 2024, T3 FCU has gradually developed into an international model for cooperation against crypto-related financial crime.

The organization has investigated terrorism financing, money laundering, fraud, digital asset theft, and the exploitation of blockchain vulnerabilities. During that time, analysts reviewed millions of transactions across five continents and helped freeze funds connected to criminal activity.

Today, the initiative works with government agencies and regulators across 23 jurisdictions, including the United States, Spain, Germany, Brazil, and the United Kingdom, building an increasingly global framework for monitoring illicit crypto transactions.