Telegram Dismantles $27B Crypto Scam Empire Huione in Major Fraud Crackdown

Telegram executed one of 2025's most significant anti-fraud operations in May, shutting down Huione's primary money laundering channels. The Chinese-speaking scam network had amassed $27 billion before its Telegram infrastructure was disabled.

Huione demonstrated remarkable operational resilience, having acquired a 30% stake in Tudou Guarantee months prior. This strategic move enabled near-seamless migration of its user base to rival platforms after the Telegram ban, highlighting the fluid nature of crypto crime ecosystems.

The takedown raises pressing questions about messaging platforms' dual role as both facilitators and combatants of financial crime. While Telegram's action disrupted Huione's operations, the rapid absorption of its users by competing services underscores systemic challenges in policing decentralized finance.