Crypto Firm Helps Turkey Freeze Half‑a‑Billion Dollars

A Turkish court on January 30 ordered the seizure of more than $500 million tied to Veysel Sahin, who faces charges for operating illegal gambling sites and laundering money. The assets were frozen through a request from Istanbul’s prosecutor office, who said an unnamed cryptocurrency firm carried out the move. The company was identified as Tether Holdings SA, the issuer of the USDT stablecoin that has a market value near $185 billion. Tether has been expanding its role in global law‑enforcement efforts, offering assistance to governments that are tackling alleged crimes such as money laundering, drug trafficking and sanction evasion.By partnering with Turkish authorities, the firm demonstrated how digital currencies can be leveraged to support investigations and asset recovery in complex criminal cases. The move also highlights the growing scrutiny on stablecoins, which promise price stability but can still be used to facilitate illicit activity if not properly monitored.