Interpol Recovers $439M in Crypto Fraud Crackdown as Global Fight Against Digital Crime Intensifies
The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) has recovered more than $439 million in cash, cryptocurrency, and other assets following the conclusion of Operation HAECHI VI, a five-month global crackdown on cyber-enabled financial crimes.
Running from April to August 2025, the operation involved authorities from 40 countries and territories, targeting crimes such as investment fraud, business email compromise (BEC), romance scams, sextortion, and illegal online gambling.
, the coordinated effort led to the blocking of over 68,000 bank accounts and the freezing of nahead 400 cryptocurrency wallets, with $16 million traced directly to illicit digital assets. The remaining funds were recovered from traditional and hybrid financial systems used to launder money across borders.
Interpol’s Assistant Director of Financial Crime, Isaac Ke, said the operation demonstrated how global collaboration and data sharing could disrupt transnational fraud networks and recover assets before they vanish into digital systems.
Operation HAECHI VI exposed the growing sophistication of online criminal networks, many of which blend conventional banking channels with blockchain-based transactions and shell companies to conceal illicit proceeds. Through Interpol’s Global Rapid Intervention of Payments (I-GRIP) system, authorities were able to trace and halt transfers in real time, resulting in multiple high-profile arrests and fund recoveries across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
The Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre (IFCACC) coordinated the international response, which also relied on private-sector partnerships with financial institutions and crypto platforms to identify suspicious transactions.
Interpol said the HAECHI initiative—launched in 2020—has become central to its strategy against digital financial crime. The previous phase, Operation HAECHI V, recovered $199 million and led to more than 5,500 arrests globally. The agency added that the insights from the latest phase would guide future cooperation among member countries to strengthen surveillance and improve rapid asset recovery in the crypto space.
Interpol Leads Global Push Against Digital Financial Crime Intensifies
Interpol’s latest success under Operation HAECHI VI coincides with a broader global effort to combat crypto-related fraud. Earlier, last month, , resulting in over 1,200 arrests and the seizure of $97 million in assets. The crackdown, supported by the UK and AFRIPOL, underscores growing international cooperation in tackling online financial crime.
Private sector innovation is also reinforcing these efforts. Blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs recently , a real-time alert system designed to assist platforms and law enforcement trace and freeze illicit funds before they exit the crypto ecosystem.
Meanwhile, European authorities continue to tighten oversight, with Polish prosecutors viewking Interpol’s assist to arrest Marcin P., CEO of currency platform Cinkciarz.pl, over —a reminder that traditional finance and crypto fraud remain deeply connected in the evolving digital economy.
