- German and Swiss authorities shut down the Bitcoin mixing service
WIESBADEN, Germany — An international law enforcement team led by German and Swiss authorities shut down the Bitcoin mixing service `cryptomixer . io` on Wednesday, seizing its server infrastructure in Switzerland.
The operation resulted in the confiscation of cryptocurrencies valued at approximately 25 million euros.
The platform, active since 2016, was one of the oldest and largest services of its kind, enabling users to obscure the origins of cryptocurrency transactions.
Authorities report that the platform, which had a turnover in the billions, was a popular money laundering service for the underground economy due to its deliberate measures to prevent the tracing of funds and a lack of customer identification protocols.
The operators are accused of commercial money laundering and operating a criminal trading platform.
The joint investigation was led by the Frankfurt Public Prosecutor’s Office (ZIT) and the Zurich Cantonal Public Prosecutor’s Office, with crucial support from Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), Zurich police, and Europol.
During the raid, investigators seized servers, extensive data, and several email accounts.
Officials called the operation a significant blow against online money laundering, successfully disrupting criminal activity and seizing illicit assets.
The evidence secured is expected to aid in further cybercrime investigations, even as the individuals behind the platform have not yet been identified.