Tether, the issuer of the world’s largest stablecoin USDT, has announced a strategic investment in Crystal Intelligence, a leading blockchain analytics company, aimed at bolstering efforts to fight illicit stablecoin use and enhance blockchain forensic capabilities. This move reflects Tether’s intensified focus on transparency and combating criminal activity within the crypto ecosystem.
Crystal Intelligence, originally developed by Bitfury, offers sophisticated data-driven tools that enable real-time risk monitoring, fraud detection, and regulatory compliance. These tools are widely utilized by law enforcement, regulators, and financial institutions to trace suspicious transactions and investigate crypto-related crimes.
Earlier in 2025, Tether and Crystal Intelligence collaborated to launch Scam Alert, a public platform designed to identify and flag wallet addresses linked to scams, hacks, and other fraudulent activities. This platform has already provided valuable insights into phishing schemes and other illicit operations, enhancing transparency and community awareness.
The strategic investment grants Tether direct access to Crystal’s advanced analytics suite, significantly strengthening its ability to support global law enforcement agencies. Tether has a track record of assisting over 255 agencies across 55 jurisdictions, having helped freeze more than $2.7 billion in stablecoins connected to criminal activity. The partnership aims to expand data sharing and develop more sophisticated tools to prevent the misuse of USDT in illicit finance.
Paolo Ardoino, Tether’s CEO, emphasized that this collaboration sends a clear message to bad actors: misuse of USDT will be met with swift detection and enforcement action. He highlighted the importance of combining Tether’s resources with Crystal’s technological expertise to enhance the fight against crypto crime while maintaining compliance with global regulators.
This investment comes amid a surge in crypto-related fraud, with the FBI reporting $9.3 billion in digital asset thefts in 2024 alone—a 66% increase from the previous year. Tether’s proactive approach reflects the growing demand for stronger compliance frameworks as stablecoins become increasingly integral to the global financial system.