Particle.news
Download on the App Store

EU Cyber-Patrol Traces $55 Million in Piracy Crypto, Flags 25 IPTV Services for Disruption

Investigators bought illicit subscriptions with cryptocurrency to unmask operators, routing wallet details to exchanges for follow-up.

Overview

  • Europol led a five-day Intellectual Property Crime Cyber-Patrol Week in Alicante with the EUIPO and Spain’s National Police.
  • Teams identified 69 suspect sites drawing an estimated 11,821,006 annual visits, with 44 additional targets moved into ongoing probes.
  • Cross-border participants from more than 15 countries and private-sector partners shared OSINT tools and investigative techniques.
  • Financial mapping linked cryptocurrency flows totaling about USD 55 million—more than EUR 47 million—to suspected illicit streaming operations.
  • Referrals sent to crypto service providers aim to disrupt payment channels, with several services and accounts remaining under scrutiny.