Chainalysis Exposes Cryptocurrency Network Behind Major Darkweb CSAM Operation
Chainalysis has dismantled the financial infrastructure of a notorious darkweb platform distributing child sexual abuse material, tracing over $530,000 in crypto payments across 5,800 addresses since 2022. The blockchain analytics firm uncovered the operation following a UK law enforcement tip, employing advanced on-chain tracing to map the network's scale—surpassing even the 2017 "Welcome to Video" case in complexity.
The site operated a tiered membership model fueled by QR-code-enabled cryptocurrency payments, with transactions persisting as recently as June 2025. This revelation underscores the persistent abuse of crypto anonymity by illicit actors, despite blockchain's traceability advantages for law enforcement.