Tether Assists Turkey in Freezing $544 Million Linked to Illegal Gambling and Money Laundering

At Turkey’s request, Tether froze $544 million in suspected illicit funds, contributing to a total of $2.5 billion in frozen assets by major stablecoin issuers by end-2025.

USDT

Summary

On February 7, Tether froze over $544 million in crypto assets after a request from Turkish authorities, linked to an alleged illegal gambling and money laundering ring. According to Elliptic, Tether and Circle have collectively blacklisted around 5,700 wallets, freezing $2.5 billion in digital assets by the end of 2025, with USDT accounting for two-thirds of the total. The action underscores both Turkey’s intensified enforcement efforts and the growing role of stablecoin issuers in global regulatory cooperation.

Terms & Concepts
  • Stablecoin: A cryptocurrency designed to maintain a stable value by pegging it to a reserve asset such as fiat currency.
  • Asset Freeze: A legal action that restricts access to funds or property suspected to be linked to illegal activity.
  • Money Laundering: The process of concealing the origins of illegally obtained money, typically by transferring it through complex financial systems or transactions.