In recent weeks, the United States Secret Service (USSS) has made significant strides in its battle against cryptocurrency-related crimes, establishing itself as a key player on the international stage.
🏆 A decade of success: US$ 400 million recovered
According to Bloomberg, the Global Investigative Operations Center (GIOC), a specialized unit of the USSS, has recovered nearly US$ 400 million in digital assets over the past ten years, accumulating them in one of the largest 'cold wallets' in the world (es.cointelegraph.com, theblock.co).
💰 Record: seizure of US$ 225 million
Last June, the largest seizure in the agency's history was executed: US$ 225 million in cryptocurrencies linked to pig butchering scams. The action combined blockchain analysis, collaboration with the FBI, and assistance from major exchanges such as Coinbase and Tether (es.cointelegraph.com).
🤝 Strategic partners: Coinbase and Tether
Coinbase provided key evidence, identifying more than 130 affected customers with losses of US$ 2.3 million, and actively collaborated with the USSS (es.cointelegraph.com).
Tether froze 39 suspicious addresses and 'burned' the tokens before reissuing them in a wallet under government control (es.cointelegraph.com).
🌐 International training in blockchain
The USSS has trained law enforcement forces from more than 60 countries, providing workshops on transaction tracking, IP analysis, identification of fraudulent domains, and the use of blockchain forensic software (ainvest.com). In recent sessions in Bermuda, real cases were demonstrated tracking from the blockchain to IP addresses.
🔍 Methodology: transparency and persistence
With open-source tools, subpoenas, VPN analysis, and domain records, agents have tracked global scam networks. According to Jamie Lam, analyst at the GIOC, the key is patience: 'Sometimes you just need patience' when finding errors in VPNs or jumps in the blockchain (ainvest.com).
⚠️ Crypto fraud: growing threat
In the U.S., losses from crypto scams exceeded US$ 9.3 billion in 2024, making digital fraud an absolute priority for governments (es.cointelegraph.com).
✔️ Conclusion
The U.S. Secret Service has evolved beyond its original mission, consolidating itself as a global power in the fight against crypto crime. By combining blockchain forensic techniques, multi-billion dollar asset rescues, and international training, it sets a new standard in pursuing global scam networks.
This scheme of cooperation between agencies and the private sector allows for a quick and efficient response, protecting millions of victims and ensuring the return of illicit funds.