Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) has shut down the eXch cryptocurrency exchange and seized related assets over allegations of money laundering and operating a criminal platform. This operation targeted illicit activities involving digital asset transfers and criminal underground advertising. (Affected: eXch platform, users, and involved criminal entities)
Keypoints :
- The BKA seized the infrastructure of the eXch cryptocurrency exchange on April 30, 2025, amid money laundering allegations.
- Authorities confiscated 8 terabytes of data and cryptocurrency assets worth €34 million ($38.25 million), including Bitcoin, Ether, Litecoin, and Dash.
- eXch, operational since 2014 and available on both the clearnet and dark web, facilitated anonymous crypto swapping with no anti-money laundering measures.
- The platform is estimated to have transferred approximately $1.9 billion in cryptocurrency, including illicit proceeds linked to North Korean threat actors.
- eXch announced its closure in April 2025, citing false accusations of money laundering and terrorism, amid active law enforcement investigations.
- The Dutch FIOD emphasized that the crackdown targets criminal misuse, not privacy, urging illicit participants to cease illegal activities immediately.
- The operation underscores law enforcement’s commitment to combat illegal financial activities while respecting digital privacy rights.
Read More: https://thehackernews.com/2025/05/germany-shuts-down-exch-over-19b.html