Tether crypto, Tron, TRM Labs team up: ‘Our goal is to create…’

• T3 FCU, formed by Tether, Tron, and TRM Labs, aims to combat USDT-related crimes.
• USDT on Tron saw $19.3 billion in illicit volume. 

Amid the escalating crypto scam crisis, Tether, the issuer of the USDT stablecoin; Tron, the decentralized organization behind the Tron blockchain; and TRM Labs, a blockchain intelligence firm based in San Francisco, have united to create the T3 Financial Crime Unit (T3 FCU).

This strategic partnership aims to tackle illegal activities involving USDT on the Tron blockchain, signaling a concerted effort to enhance security and integrity in the cryptocurrency space.

Execs weigh in…

Commenting on the development, Tron founder Justin Sun stated in a document released by Tether,

“Our goal is to create a safer, more secure crypto community, setting a new standard for the industry.” 

As per the report, the T3 Financial Crime Unit has made significant strides in combating financial crime since its launch.

In collaboration with law enforcement, the initiative has successfully frozen over $12 million in USDT tied to various illicit activities, including blackmail scams and investment fraud schemes.

To date, the unit has identified 11 victims, with additional cases anticipated as investigations progress.

 Reasons behind these rising crimes

The widespread adoption of stablecoins like USDT, which boasts a market capitalization exceeding $118 billion, has unfortunately attracted malicious actors.

With over half of USDT’s supply operating on the Tron blockchain, the scale and accessibility of these assets have made them an appealing target for illicit activities.

Acknowledging the strides made in addressing these challenges and valuing the collaboration, TRM Labs CEO Esteban Castaño noted, 

 “We were the first blockchain intelligence company to start mapping illicit activity on Tron—we’ve been partnering on that front since 2019, but this initiative takes that even further.” 

He added, 

 “Tron is also making a significant investment to track illicit activity, so we are expanding both investigative and threat intel capabilities.”

While the financial commitment was not disclosed, the focus seemed clear.

What do the numbers indicate?

As of August, Tron boasted over 247 million user accounts and more than 8 billion transactions.

The platform’s appeal, characterized by low fees and stability, has also attracted malicious actors.

TRM Labs’ April report highlighted that USDT on Tron led stablecoins in illicit volume, with $19.3 billion in 2023, compared to $428.9 million for USDC.

The report also revealed that 45% of all illicit crypto transactions occurred on Tron last year, a rise from 41% in 2022, while Ethereum [ETH] and Bitcoin [BTC] were responsible for 24% and 18%, respectively.

In March 2023, the SEC sued Tron founder Justin Sun and his companies over alleged unregistered offerings and market manipulation involving TRX and BTT tokens, although Sun’s legal team challenges these allegations. 

Other crypto crime reports

That being said, a recent report from the U.S. FBI, dated the 9th of September, revealed a dramatic rise in crypto frauds and scams, which surged by 45% in 2023 compared to the previous year.

This surge in illicit activities has led to staggering losses exceeding $5.6 billion. 

Additionally, blockchain security firm Peckshield reported that August witnessed over ten major hacks within the crypto market, leading to substantial losses totaling $313.86 million. 

Hence, as stablecoins face mounting scrutiny, it is yet to be seen whether this partnership will set a new benchmark for security in the crypto.