Coinbase Freezes $3M in Crypto Tied to Southeast Asia Scam Networks

A global operation targeting cyber-enabled crypto scam networks in Southeast Asia has led Coinbase to freeze over $3 million in cryptocurrency.

The operation was part of Disruption Week led by the US Department of Justice's Scam Center Strike Force, which brought together government entities and private industries to tackle crypto fraud targeting Americans. The effort also involved Meta, Microsoft, and Starlink, among others.

Beyond the $3 million frozen on Coinbase, authorities around the world have been heavily targeting scam infrastructure this year. In April, a joint action involving the US Scam Center Strike Force and its law enforcement partners targeted scam centers and froze more than $701 million in crypto linked to investment scams.