- TRON, Tether, and Chainalysis launched DCTF to flag illicit USDT activity early.
- Chainalysis said AI-linked scams generated 4.5 times more revenue per operation in 2025.
- Tether says it froze over $7 billion tied to illicit activity across 73 countries.
TRON, Tether, and Chainalysis launched the Digital Crime Task Force (DCTF) on November 12 to identify suspicious USDT transactions and help law enforcement freeze illicit funds before they can be moved. The initiative combines blockchain monitoring, investigative tools, and coordination with authorities to combat financial crime on the TRON network.
Unlike approaches that rely primarily on victim reports, the task force aims to detect suspicious activity earlier and support faster intervention. It will also review tips from law enforcement agencies and coordinate asset-freeze requests to prevent the further movement of funds linked to illicit activity.
TRON, Tether, and Chainalysis Target AI-Driven USDT Crime
The launch comes as artificial intelligence changes how cryptocurrency scams operate. Fraudsters are using increasingly sophisticated tools, while investigators face growing pressure to identify suspicious transactions before the funds disappear.
Chainalysis research showed that scams linked to AI generated 4.5 times more revenue per operation than those without identified AI connections in 2025. The difference was substantial. AI-linked scams generated an average of $3.2 million per operation, compared with $719,000 for other schemes.
Impersonation scams also increased by more than 1,400% year over year. These figures help explain the approach behind DCTF. According to the report, Chainalysis will contribute blockchain intelligence and AI-powered investigative tools to identify suspicious activity, trace transactions, and uncover networks connected to illicit funds.
Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino said waiting for victims to report crimes was no longer sufficient as criminals increasingly use AI to move faster. He added that Tether had already frozen more than $7 billion linked to illicit activity through cooperation with over 360 law enforcement agencies across 73 countries.
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New Task Force Expands TRON USDT Monitoring After T3 Closure
The task force’s remit extends beyond investment and romance scams. Cryptocurrency theft, terrorist financing, North Korean cyber operations, cartel money laundering, and drug trafficking are also among its priorities.
TRON founder Justin Sun said millions of people use USDT on the network to support their families and businesses. As digital finance reaches more users, he said, protection against financial crime needs to expand.
The announcement follows the collapse of an earlier partnership. TRON and Tether had established the T3 Financial Crime Unit with TRM Labs in September 2024. However, Bloomberg reported on November 4 that the alliance had been dissolved following coordination problems and slow response times.
The new initiative places greater emphasis on identifying threats before funds move through criminal networks. It will use investigative findings to provide authorities with actionable leads while continuing to accept tips and requests to freeze assets. The organizations, however, have not yet disclosed enforcement results from DCTF.
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Related: South Korea Eyes Preventive Crypto Freezes When Exchanges Suspect Hacking
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