- Interpol designates crypto fraud as a serious transnational crime.
- Operation HAECHI VI recovers $342M, freezes 400 crypto wallets.
- International cooperation among 40 countries enhances response efforts.
Interpol has identified cryptocurrency fraud as a major transnational crime threat, culminating in Operation HAECHI VI from April to August 2025, which spanned 40 countries.
This effort underscores the significance of international collaboration against crypto fraud, recovering substantial financial assets while indicating industry trends toward enhanced regulatory frameworks and anti-fraud technologies.
INTERPOL has launched a dedicated task force to combat cryptocurrency fraud as a major transnational threat. The collaboration extends across 40 countries, indicating a concerted effort to dismantle crypto-related cybercrime networks.
USD 439 million recovered in global financial crime operation, Operation HAECHI VI, running from April to August 2025, significantly recovered USD 342 million in government-backed currencies and USD 97 million in virtual assets. This effort aligns with INTERPOL’s broader financial crime strategy under director Theos Badege.
Immediate effects of INTERPOL’s actions include securing blocked 68,000 bank accounts and freezing access to identified illicit crypto wallets. Stakeholders observe this as a impactful intervention in transnational financial crime.
The financial implications are substantive. By addressing potential vulnerabilities, operations like HAECHI VI underscore the sensitive intersection of cryptocurrencies and transnational crime. Strengthened regulatory frameworks are anticipated following broader collaborations.
“While many people believe that funds lost to fraud and scams are often irretrievable, the outcomes of HAECHI operations demonstrate that recovery is indeed possible. As one of INTERPOL’s flagship financial crime operations, HAECHI is a prime example of how global cooperation can protect communities and safeguard financial systems.” — Theos Badege, Director pro tempore, INTERPOL’s Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre
As international focus on crypto regulations heightens, INTERPOL’s I-GRIP mechanism may become a template for further law enforcement initiatives. Transnational scam centres threat discussed at INTERPOL General Assembly. Blockchain analytics innovations are suggested to enhance such operations. This underscores a possible shift towards real-time intervention technologies and tighter cross-border regulations.
