Share this article
European Authorities Seize $1.51B Bitcoin-Mixing Service Cryptomixer
Europol dismantled a crypto-mixing platform it said is used by ransomware groups and darknet markets to launder bitcoin, seizing servers, data and $29 million in BTC.
Dec 1, 2025, 3:37 p.m.
Make us preferred on Google
What to know:
- Europol, along with authorities in Switzerland and Germany, has taken down Cryptomixer, a long-running crypto-mixing service alleged to have laundered more than $1.51 billion in bitcoin.
- The operation resulted in the seizure of three servers, the service’s domain, $29 million in BTC, and 12 terabytes of data.
- Crypto mixers obscure blockchain traces and can be used as money-laundering tools by cybercriminal groups to cash out illicit funds.
Cryptomixer, a cryptocurrency-mixing service allegedly used by cybercriminals to launder illicit bitcoin , has been dismantled in a coordinated law-enforcement operation in Zurich, European Union (EU) law-enforcement agency Europol said on Monday.
The takedown, carried out Nov. 24–28 by Swiss and German police alongside Europol, resulted in the seizure of three servers, the cryptomixer.io domain, more than 25 million euros ($29 million) in bitcoin and over 12 terabytes of data.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
The authorities said Cryptomixer has facilitated more than 1.3 billion euros in bitcoin laundering since 2016. Its long settlement windows and randomized distribution patterns made it a preferred tool for obfuscating proceeds from drug trafficking, weapons sales, ransomware attacks and payment-card fraud, they said.
Crypto mixers are services that pool and redistribute user funds to obscure their origin. While mixers claim to offer privacy, they are also popular as laundering tools for ransomware gangs, dark web markets and other cybercriminals.
By breaking the onchain transaction trail, mixers allow crypto whose provenance cannot be traced to be sent to exchanges and converted into other assets or fiat. High-profile examples include Tornado Cash, whose operators were sanctioned and prosecuted for enabling billions in illicit flows.
Europol supported the takedown through forensic analysis and coordination, marking another major mixer shutdown following its role in the 2023 ChipMixer operation, the agency said in the announcement.
AI Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk's full AI Policy.
