Europol Shuts Down ‘Cryptomixer’ in Major Takedown

Cryptomixer.io, one of the longest-running Bitcoin-mixing services, has been taken offline in a coordinated operation by Swiss and German authorities. According to an announcement posted by Europol, the operation has seen the authorities seize over 25 million EUR in digital assets.

Cryptomixer Joins Other Mixers Taken Down By EU Authorities

Cryptomixer is by far the best-known crypto mixing service, as it has been active since 2016. However, according to Europol, from November 24 to November 28, Europol supported an action week conducted by law enforcement authorities from Switzerland and Germany in Zurich, Switzerland.

The operation focused on taking down the illegal crypto mixing service, which is suspected of facilitating cybercrime and money laundering.

Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) said it worked alongside prosecutors in Frankfurt and law enforcement in Zurich to dismantle the platform, which finally happened last Wednesday.

According to the BKA, the platform generated billions of euros in revenue, but it is suspected that most of it was gained from criminal activities. The operation seized Swiss-based servers, took control of the platform’s internet domain, and confiscated over 12 terabytes of data. Furthermore, the authorities recovered 25 million EUR ($29 million) in BTC.

How Does Cryptomixer Work?

Cryptomixer was a hybrid mixing service that was accessible using both the clear web and the dark web, as explained by Europol. Services like Cryptomixer break up and blend crypto transactions to obscure their origin. While they were intended to be used for privacy, authorities say they have become core tools for cybercrime, ransomware payouts, and laundering operations, usually linked to large criminal groups.

Europol’s statement said: “It facilitated the obfuscation of criminal funds for ransomware groups, underground economy forums, and dark web markets. Its software blocked the traceability of funds on the blockchain, making it the platform of choice for cybercriminals seeking to launder illegal proceeds from a variety of criminal activities, such as drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, ransomware attacks, and payment card fraud. Since its creation in the year 2016, over EUR 1.3 billion in Bitcoin were mixed through the service.”

During the operation, Europol facilitated the exchange of information in the framework of the Joint Cybercrime Action Taskforce (J-CAT). The Taskforce was hosted at Europol’s headquarters in The Hague, the Netherlands.

One of Europol’s priorities is to function as a broker of law enforcement knowledge and provide a hub through which EU Member States can connect and benefit from one another, as well as from Europol’s own expertise.

“Throughout the operation, the agency provided crucial support, including coordinating the involved partners and hosting operational meetings. On the action day, Europol’s cybercrime experts provided on-the-spot support and forensic assistance,” the announcement concluded.