Coinbase · New York · Federal Reserve (FED) · CoinDesk
Chainalysis-run sting targets child exploitation networks with aid of Binance, Coinbase
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A global team of crypto investigators, exchanges and law enforcement agencies teamed up in a multi-day effort organized by Chainalysis to investigate networks of child sex abuse materials revealed through blockchain intelligence, the company said on Tuesday.
Key facts
- The operation looked into more than 29,000 cryptocurrency addresses and digital identifiers and targeted more than 100 separate forums and hubs, generating more than 14,000 leads to guide further
- Operation Lighthouse" used the National Cyber-Forensics and Training Alliance in New York as its headquarters and partnered with law enforcement agencies around the world, including Europol
- Several crypto-related businesses, including payments firm Block, weighed in, as did nonprofit specialists, such as the Internet Watch Foundation
- Gavin Sather, senior program manager for anti-child sexual exploitation at Binance, said the "inherent transparency of blockchain makes it difficult for criminals to hide for long while exploiting
Summary
Chainalysis organized "Operation Lighthouse" with crypto and law enforcement partners to run down networks spreading child sex abuse material. The operation was said to produce thousands of leads in as many as 125 countries. "Operation Lighthouse" used the National Cyber-Forensics and Training Alliance in New York as its headquarters and partnered with law enforcement agencies around the world, including Europol, the Australian Federal Police, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the UK’s National Crime Agency. "Perpetrators exploit financial services, payment systems, social media and internet platforms to commit or facilitate these crimes," said Danny van Althuis, Europol team leader, in a statement.