European authorities have shut down a large crypto-mixing service and seized large amounts of Bitcoin, according to law enforcement statements and media reports. The operation brought down major domains, seized servers and seized $29 million worth of Bitcoin, which investigators say is connected to illicit flows.
Europol and the Swiss Authority Act
According to the report, the joint action by Europol, Swiss and German authorities took place from November 24 to November 28, 2025. During the operation, three servers in Switzerland were seized, the domain Cryptomixer.io was disabled, and investigators recovered approximately 12 terabytes of data.
Officials say the service has been in use since 2016 and is linked to around 1.3 billion euros in Bitcoin laundered during that time. The cash seized in this takedown is reported to be close to $30 million in Bitcoin.
How the service works
The report revealed that the site was operating as a hybrid mixer. That is, it accepted funds over the regular web and used techniques to pool, commingle, and redistribute the coins, making it difficult to trace the source of the funds.
Investigators say criminals used the service to hide proceeds from activities such as drug sales, ransomware attacks and fraud. Such mixers greatly reduce the effectiveness of regular tracking tools by randomizing amounts and delaying payments.
What does the seized data reveal?
Law enforcement officials say the 12 terabytes of material may contain clues to other illegal transfers and who is behind them. The data is currently being examined and could make it easier to track how money moves through the service.
It is not yet clear whether any arrests have been made. Experts have warned that even with seized material, it will be difficult to trace all tainted coins because of how commingling services scramble transaction records.
Broader impact on crypto crime
Investigators say the takedown is a major blow to online money laundering in Europe. Cryptocurrency mixers of this size have reportedly helped hide hundreds of millions and even billions of dollars over the years.
While the removal of one large service may slow the flow of some crimes, analysts warn that operators and users may move to other services and new tools. Offenders often adapt quickly, and the wider problem is likely to continue unless further action or legal action is taken.
Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
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