Major operation against the darknet: seizure of over $400 million in assets

NotAFinancialAdvice · 2026-02-13T03:03:47+00:00

American authorities have conducted a major operation targeting illegal online activities, seizing over $400 million dollars in assets connected to darknet services, especially the Helix cryptocurrency mixing platform, which was used for money laundering. This crackdown underscores increased efforts to fight online criminal networks.

NotAFinancialAdvice

2026-02-13 03:03:47

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U.S. authorities have carried out a large-scale operation targeting illegal online activities. The Department of Justice confiscated significant assets related to dark web services, marking an important step in the fight against digital money laundering.

The dismantling of the Helix service

At the center of this operation is Helix, a notorious cryptocurrency mixing platform operating on the dark web. This service allowed users to obscure the origin of their funds by mixing transactions from multiple parties. Larry Dean Harmon, the main operator of this platform, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and illegal financial activities.

The seized assets, totaling over $400 million, include cryptocurrencies and real estate accumulated through these clandestine activities. This confiscation represents one of the most significant blows to illegal mixing services.

Implications for dark web surveillance

This action by the Department of Justice signals an intensification of efforts to combat online criminal infrastructure. Authorities are strengthening their ability to identify, pursue, and dismantle dark web operations related to money laundering. The Helix case demonstrates that illegal actors, even those operating in the shadows, face increasing risks of detection and prosecution.

These operations aim to deter the use of dark web services for suspicious financial activities and to protect the integrity of the global financial system.

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