In a major cross-border operation targeting the financial backbone of digital piracy, Europol has successfully tracked down cryptocurrency valued at approximately $55 million (over €47 million) linked to a network of illicit streaming and intellectual property (IP) infringement services.
The revelation comes from Europol’s “Intellectual Property Crime Cyber-Patrol Week,” an intensive five-day operation held between November 10 and 14 in collaboration with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional).
The Crypto Counter-Strategy
The operation’s core focus was confronting the growing trend of digital criminals abandoning traditional banking methods in favor of cryptocurrency payments. Illicit service operators incorrectly believe crypto offers a shield of anonymity, but investigators successfully turned this method against them.
The key innovation in the cyber-patrol was a sophisticated counter-strategy: investigators made cryptocurrency purchases of the illegal services themselves. This step allowed them to lift the veil on the illicit actors, identify the associated crypto accounts, and trace the flow of funds.
“This approach allows to hit ‘pirates’ … where it hurts them the most: their money,” Europol stated. By identifying, tracing, and successfully shutting down these crypto accounts, authorities aim for a direct hit on the criminal revenue stream—a method deemed vital for protecting global economies and creators.
Also read: Europol and Law Enforcement Crack Down on Multimillion-Euro Phishing Gang
Massive Scope of the Crackdown on Digital Piracy
The coordinated effort, involving 30 investigators in Alicante, Spain, utilized advanced Open-Source Intelligence Techniques (OSINT) and cutting-edge online investigative tools.
The resulting disruption has been substantial:
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69 sites were identified and targeted.
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25 illicit IPTV services were immediately referred to partnering crypto service providers and major exchanges for disruption.
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The 69 targeted sites alone are estimated to draw a combined traffic of over 11.8 million annual visitors, highlighting the sheer scale of the digital black market being addressed.
While the operation resulted in immediate action, investigations on 44 additional sites remain ongoing by both public and private entities, signaling a sustained campaign against these revenue-generating piracy models.