Europol Cracks $1.4B Cryptomixer, Seizes $27M and 12TB of Data

Europol, the EU’s law enforcement agency that helps fight serious cross-border crime, has joined German and Swiss authorities to shut down one of Europe’s largest crypto-mixing operations, seizing €25 million ($27 million) in Bitcoin and over 12 terabytes of user data.

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Key Points

Europol, along with German and Swiss authorities, shut down Cryptomixer, one of Europe’s largest crypto-mixing services, seizing €25 million in Bitcoin and 12 terabytes of user data.
Cryptomixer reportedly facilitated cybercrime and money laundering by anonymizing transactions for ransomware groups, illegal marketplaces, and other criminal networks.
Since its launch in 2016, the platform is believed to have processed over €1.3 billion in Bitcoin, highlighting the scale of illicit activity it enabled.

According to an official Europol press release, authorities from Europol, Germany, and Switzerland carried out an operation in Zurich targeting Cryptomixer, a crypto-mixing service suspected of enabling cybercrime and money laundering.

The operation led to the seizure of three servers in Switzerland, the takedown of the cryptomixer.io domain, and the confiscation of more than 12 terabytes of data and over EUR 25 million in Bitcoin. Following the shutdown, authorities replaced the site with an official seizure notice.

The service functioned by pooling user deposits for extended, randomized periods before dispersing the funds to destination addresses at unpredictable intervals. Since launching in 2016, the platform is believed to have processed more than EUR 1.3 billion in Bitcoin.

Cryptomixer operated as a hybrid crypto-mixing platform available on both the open web and the dark web, giving users a tool to obscure the origin of digital funds. Authorities say the service became a preferred laundering channel for ransomware operators, illegal online marketplaces, and other criminal networks because its software disrupted blockchain traceability.

By anonymizing transactions before they were moved to cryptocurrency exchanges, the platform enabled users to convert “cleaned” assets into other digital currencies or even traditional fiat money through cash-out services, ATMs, or bank accounts. Its role in masking proceeds linked to drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, ransomware schemes, and payment card fraud made it a central infrastructure for online criminal finance.

The takedown of Cryptomixer marks another step in Europe’s broader effort to limit illicit financial activity within the digital asset sector. Investigators are increasingly focused on services that exploit privacy tools to mask unlawful transactions, reflecting a shift toward more proactive enforcement in the crypto ecosystem.

While privacy-enhancing technologies remain widely used for legitimate purposes, authorities say operations like this emphasize how easily they can be repurposed by criminal groups.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Cryptomixer was one of Europe’s largest crypto-mixing services, facilitating money laundering and cybercrime by anonymizing cryptocurrency transactions. Europol, in collaboration with German and Swiss authorities, shut it down to combat illicit financial activity.

Authorities confiscated €25 million (approximately $27 million) in Bitcoin and over 12 terabytes of user data, including server infrastructure, as part of the coordinated takedown.

The platform pooled user deposits for randomized periods before dispersing them to destination addresses, obscuring the origin of funds. It was accessible via both the open web and dark web, enabling users to anonymize transactions for illicit purposes.

Cryptomixer was used by ransomware operators, illegal marketplaces, and criminal networks to launder proceeds from drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, ransomware attacks, and payment card fraud.

The operation signals a proactive approach to regulating digital assets and targeting privacy-enhancing technologies when misused. Authorities aim to reduce illicit financial activity while distinguishing between legitimate privacy-focused blockchain use and criminal exploitation.

MICHAELA

Michaela is a news writer focused on cryptocurrency and blockchain topics. She prioritizes rigorous research and accuracy to uncover interesting angles and ensure engaging reporting. A lifelong book lover, she applies her passion for reading to deeply explore the constantly evolving crypto world.

Michaela has no crypto positions and does not hold any crypto assets. This article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The Shib Daily is the official publication of the Shiba Inu cryptocurrency project. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial adviser before making any investment decisions.

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