International operation traces $55 million crypto trail of digital piracy sites

Steven

International operation traces $55 million crypto trail of digital piracy sites

Summary

Investigators from 15 countries used cryptocurrency transactions to infiltrate and map the payment networks that sustain illegal streaming and piracy services. Over a five-day operation involving 30 investigators, authorities targeted 69 digital piracy sites, including 25 illegal streaming services, and traced roughly $55 million in cryptocurrency linked to those platforms. Chainalysis provided blockchain intelligence to map fund flows, while Coinbase and Binance acted on the intelligence. The effort, supported by cybersecurity firm Irdeto and England’s Premier League, aimed to disrupt the payment mechanisms that keep IPTV and other piracy services operating — a persistent problem despite prior takedowns such as Streameast.

Key Points

  • 30 investigators from 15 countries took part in a five-day crackdown on digital piracy services.
  • Authorities targeted 69 piracy sites, referring 25 illegal streaming services’ information to cryptocurrency platforms for disruption.
  • Investigators traced about $55 million in cryptocurrency linked to the illicit services.
  • Law enforcement used crypto purchases to gain operational visibility into operators’ financial networks.
  • Chainalysis provided blockchain intelligence; Coinbase and Binance took actions based on the findings.
  • Operation supported by Irdeto and England’s Premier League to cut off revenue streams for pirate platforms.
  • IPTV streaming sites remain a recurring enforcement challenge despite repeated takedowns.

Why should I read this?

Short and blunt: they’re following the money — and that’s the weak link. This article shows a tactical shift where investigators use crypto payments as a forensics tool to choke off pirate services’ revenue. If you work in security, payments, media rights or crypto, this matters — it’s the kind of move that can change how piracy is policed and monetised.

Source

Source: https://therecord.media/international-operation-traces-millions-crypto-streaming-piracy