UN Report Highlights Tether’s Rising Role in Money Laundering Across Southeast Asia

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Jai Pratap

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Jai Pratap

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Jai serves as the Asia Desk Editor for Cryptonews.com, where he leads a diverse team of international reporters. Jai has over five years of experience covering the web3 industry.

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Last updated:

January 15, 2024 02:06 EST

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In a recent report released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Tether, one of the world’s largest stablecoin Tether, has been identified as a prominent tool employed by money launderers and fraudsters operating in Southeast Asia.

The report sheds light on the increasing use of Tether’s stablecoin USDT as a preferred method for illicit activities, raising concerns among law enforcement and financial intelligence authorities.

The UN report, published on Monday, highlights the alarming surge in scams associated with Tether, including schemes that manipulate false romantic connections to gain victims’ trust before coaxing them into transferring substantial sums – a tactic commonly known as “pig butchering,” Financial Times reported.

Tether is Becoming Go-To Choice for Money Launderers

According to the report, authorities have observed a rapid growth in sophisticated, high-speed money laundering teams that specialize in utilizing Tether for underground transactions.

The evolution of cryptocurrency, coupled with other technological advancements, has further propelled organized crime gangs in southeast Asia to exploit black market casinos for laundering illicit funds.

The report points out that online gambling platforms, particularly those operating illegally, have become popular avenues for cryptocurrency-based money launderers, with USDT being a favored choice.

Jeremy Douglas of the UN’s Office on Drugs and Crime commented on the situation, stating,

“Organized crime has effectively created a parallel banking system using new technologies, and the proliferation of loosely or entirely unregulated online casinos, together with crypto, has supercharged the region’s criminal ecosystem.”

Several Tether-Linked Money Laundering Networks Dismantled

Tether, a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar, has allowed traders to navigate in and out of crypto trades, distinguishing it from other cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin predominantly used for speculation.

The report highlights recent efforts by authorities to dismantle money laundering networks associated with Tether, including a successful operation by Singaporean authorities that recovered $737 million in cash and crypto last August.

Despite regulatory scrutiny and enforcement crackdowns in various jurisdictions, criminal groups persist in adopting the leading stablecoin as a preferred method for moving funds.

Some casinos have even specialized in handling stablecoin transactions, further emphasizing the cryptocurrency’s role in illicit financial activities.