Tether Freezes $344M USDT in Largest Single Blacklist Action Ever

On April 23, 2026, Tether executed its largest-ever asset freeze — $344,211,454 USDT across two TRON wallets, blacklisted simultaneously at 12:02 UTC.

The Frozen Wallets

Two addresses were added to Tether's blacklist in the same block:

• TNiq9AXBp9EjUqhDhrwrfvAA8U3GUQZH81 — $212,922,653 USDT


• TTiDLWE6fZK8okMJv6ijg42yrH6W2pjSr9 — $131,288,800 USDT

Both wallets were frozen on the TRON network (TRC20). On TRON, blacklisted addresses can still receive USDT but cannot send or withdraw — all outgoing transfers are permanently blocked.

Tether's Official Statement

Tether confirmed the freeze was conducted in coordination with OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control) and U.S. law enforcement agencies. According to their official announcement, the activity was connected to unlawful conduct, including sanctions evasion and criminal networks.

"USD₮ is not a safe haven for illicit activity. When credible links to sanctioned entities or criminal networks are identified, we act immediately and decisively."
— Paolo Ardoino, Tether CEO

Tether's Track Record

This freeze brings Tether's total frozen assets to $4.4 billion, with $2.1 billion linked to U.S. authorities. Key statistics from Tether's compliance program:

• 340+ law enforcement agencies across 65 countries


• 2,300+ cases supported globally (1,200+ U.S.-based)


• Previous DOJ-acknowledged seizures of $61M and $225M related to pig butchering fraud

What This Means for USDT Holders

This record-breaking freeze reinforces that USDT is actively monitored and that Tether cooperates directly with law enforcement. For businesses and traders handling USDT:

• Check counterparties before accepting large USDT transfers


• Monitor your wallets for connections to blacklisted addresses


• Run AML checks to assess risk scores of incoming funds

Use USDTBanList to check any wallet for blacklist status, or set up real-time monitoring with @ChainSentryBot.

Timeline

• 12:02:36 UTC — Ban executed (funds frozen)

Both addresses were detected by USDTBanList within seconds of the on-chain event. Subscribers with real-time alerts received notifications immediately.