# Freeze Related Articles

HTX News Center provides the latest articles and in-depth analysis on "Freeze", covering market trends, project updates, tech developments, and regulatory policies in the crypto industry.

Circle Blacklists Zama Protocol Address, Freezing $12.6M In User Funds – Details

Circle has blacklisted a smart contract address for the Zama protocol's Confidential USDC (cUSDC), freezing approximately $12.6 million in user funds. The action, identified by on-chain investigator ZachXBT, targeted a publicly documented contract on Ethereum. Investigations suggest the frozen funds may be indirectly connected to ongoing controversy and legal issues surrounding Overnight Finance, an asset-management protocol. A wallet linked to Overnight Finance had deposited a large sum into the Zama contract amidst governance disputes and allegations of a possible rug pull. This move by Circle, reportedly made without prior warning to Zama, has reignited criticism over transparency and unilateral enforcement by centralized stablecoin issuers. It highlights concerns about how external legal and governance risks can impact unrelated users in interconnected DeFi systems. Circle has not provided an official explanation for the freeze.

bitcoinist4h ago

Circle Blacklists Zama Protocol Address, Freezing $12.6M In User Funds – Details

bitcoinist4h ago

Tether Urged To Transfer $344M In Frozen USDT To Terror Victims

A US federal court in Manhattan is being asked to order Tether to transfer $344 million in frozen USDT to victims of Iran-linked terrorist attacks. The plaintiffs, including a Jerusalem family affected by a 1997 Hamas bombing, hold unpaid court judgments against Iran. They target two Tron blockchain wallets, frozen earlier this year by the US Treasury's OFAC as linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Their lawsuit argues that because Tether, as a centralized issuer, can freeze wallets, it can also be compelled by court order to move the equivalent funds to satisfy the judgments. This case could set a significant legal precedent for centralized stablecoin issuers and is part of a broader legal campaign targeting frozen crypto assets linked to sanctioned entities.

bitcoinist05/16 21:01

Tether Urged To Transfer $344M In Frozen USDT To Terror Victims

bitcoinist05/16 21:01

Tether Ramps Up Wallet Freezes, Blocking Over $500M In USDT

Tether has significantly increased its wallet freezing activity, blocking over $514 million in USDT across 370 addresses on the Tron and Ethereum networks in just the past 30 days. Data from BlockSec shows the vast majority of these freezes (328 addresses, $506 million) occurred on Tron. The pace is accelerating, with the 2025 annual total of $1.26 billion across 4,163 addresses at risk of being surpassed this year. Once frozen, wallets are rarely reinstated, and more than half of the associated funds are typically permanently destroyed. A growing portion of these enforcement actions are coordinated with law enforcement. Recent examples include freezing $344 million linked to suspected sanctions evasion with Iran and $61 million tied to "pig butchering" scams. Cumulatively from 2023-2025, Tether has frozen roughly $3.3 billion across 7,268 addresses, far exceeding actions by competitors like Circle. This surge has sparked broader debate within crypto about the power issuers and projects hold to freeze or recover funds, highlighting how compliance and central controls remain integral behind the scenes of decentralized ecosystems.

bitcoinist05/10 00:31

Tether Ramps Up Wallet Freezes, Blocking Over $500M In USDT

bitcoinist05/10 00:31

Iran’s Crypto Lifeline Hit As US Freezes $344 Million In Funds

The US Treasury has frozen $344 million in cryptocurrency tied to Iranian military and political groups, specifically targeting two Tron blockchain wallets connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Hizballah. This action follows reports that Iran was collecting Bitcoin payments from ships for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The freeze occurred just one day after stablecoin issuer Tether locked the same amount of funds at the request of US law enforcement. The move is part of broader US efforts to disrupt Iran's ability to generate and move funds, highlighting the limitations of using cryptocurrency as a sanctions workaround when centralized issuers comply with enforcement actions.

bitcoinist04/26 10:01

Iran’s Crypto Lifeline Hit As US Freezes $344 Million In Funds

bitcoinist04/26 10:01

Tether’s Mega-Freeze: $344M USDT Locked Down In Major Operation With US Authorities

Tether has frozen $344 million in USDT held in two Tron wallets at the request of US authorities, including OFAC, after the wallets were linked to sanctions evasion and criminal activity. The company emphasized its routine cooperation with global law enforcement, having supported over 2,300 cases and frozen more than $4.4 billion in assets to date. This action contrasts with increased scrutiny on rival stablecoin issuer Circle, which faces a lawsuit over its alleged failure to promptly freeze $280 million stolen in the Drift Protocol hack. Tether also announced a collaboration with Drift Protocol to support recovery efforts with nearly $150 million in backing.

bitcoinist04/24 08:32

Tether’s Mega-Freeze: $344M USDT Locked Down In Major Operation With US Authorities

bitcoinist04/24 08:32

Tether Cooperates with U.S. Sanctions to Freeze $344 Million in USDT, Reigniting Debate Over Stablecoin 'One-Click Freeze Authority'

Tether, the issuer of USDT, has frozen over $344 million worth of USDT across two Tron blockchain addresses in its largest-ever single compliance action. The freeze was carried out on April 23 in coordination with the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and other law enforcement agencies. The funds are suspected to be linked to sanctions evasion, criminal networks, or other illicit activities, though specific details were not disclosed. This action comes amid increased U.S. regulatory scrutiny, including sanctions against entities tied to Iran and Mexican drug cartels. Tether’s CEO, Paolo Ardoino, emphasized the company’s commitment to preventing illegal use of USDT, contrasting it with slower responses from competitors like Circle. To date, Tether has frozen over $4.4 billion in assets and collaborates with more than 340 law enforcement agencies across 65 countries. The move has reignited debate within the crypto community over the centralized "freeze authority" held by stablecoin issuers, challenging the notion that "your stablecoins are your own." Critics point to the built-in blacklist function in USDT’s smart contracts, which allows Tether to immobilize funds in targeted wallets, while proponents argue it enhances regulatory compliance and anti-money laundering efforts.

marsbit04/24 04:17

Tether Cooperates with U.S. Sanctions to Freeze $344 Million in USDT, Reigniting Debate Over Stablecoin 'One-Click Freeze Authority'

marsbit04/24 04:17

Justin Sun Sues World Liberty Financial Over Token Freeze Dispute

Justin Sun, founder of Tron, has filed a lawsuit in a California federal court against World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a project backed by the Trump family. Sun alleges the project threatened to burn his tokens and froze them without providing a reason. He stated he resorted to litigation after failed attempts to resolve the matter directly with the team. The dispute centers around a new WLFI governance proposal that would lock tokens for founders and advisors for two years, release them gradually over three years, and burn 10% of the tokens. Sun criticized the plan as non-transparent and harmful, arguing it would permanently freeze tokens of holders who do not explicitly accept its terms. He had previously raised concerns that 76% of the voting power came from just 10 wallets. WLFI has denied Sun's claims as "baseless allegations," stating they have evidence and are prepared for a legal battle. Despite the lawsuit, Sun reaffirmed his support for former President Trump and his administration's crypto-friendly policies.

TheNewsCrypto04/22 11:56

Justin Sun Sues World Liberty Financial Over Token Freeze Dispute

TheNewsCrypto04/22 11:56

Arbitrum Freezes $71M ETH Linked to Kelp Hack, Sparks Decentralization Debate

Arbitrum, an Ethereum layer-2 blockchain, froze 30,766 ETH (worth over $71.2 million) linked to the recent Kelp protocol exploit. The freeze was executed by a 12-member security council appointed by the Arbitrum community, moving the funds to an intermediary wallet accessible only through further governance action. The hack, which occurred on Saturday, resulted in at least $293 million in losses and was attributed to North Korea by LayerZero. The incident has reignited debates about decentralization, as some critics argue such freezes contradict blockchain’s core principles, while others support them for security. The council reportedly spent hours deliberating the decision, which was approved by 9 of its 12 members.

TheNewsCrypto04/21 09:05

Arbitrum Freezes $71M ETH Linked to Kelp Hack, Sparks Decentralization Debate

TheNewsCrypto04/21 09:05

Crypto Shockwave: Circle Sued As $280 Million Drift Hack Unravels

A class action lawsuit has been filed in a Massachusetts federal court against Circle Internet Financial, alleging the stablecoin issuer was negligent and aided in the theft of $280 million from the Drift Protocol. The plaintiffs, representing over 100 investors, argue Circle had the means to stop the stolen USDC from being moved across blockchains using its Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol but failed to act. They point to Circle's prior action of freezing wallets in a separate civil case as proof it could have intervened. The April 1st hack is attributed to North Korean state-backed actors who moved the funds to Ethereum and laundered them through Tornado Cash. The case raises significant questions about the responsibility of centralized entities in the decentralized crypto ecosystem.

bitcoinist04/17 18:31

Crypto Shockwave: Circle Sued As $280 Million Drift Hack Unravels

bitcoinist04/17 18:31

Nic Carter Says Bitcoin Has 3 Ways To Handle Satoshi’s Coins

Nic Carter, founding partner at Castle Island Ventures, outlines three potential approaches for Bitcoin regarding early coins vulnerable to future quantum computing attacks. He estimates 1.7 million BTC in old pay-to-pubkey outputs could be at risk if quantum computers advance and Bitcoin transitions to post-quantum cryptography. The first option is to freeze non-migrated coins, a move likely supported by institutions and custodians to prevent market destabilization. The second is to leave them untouched, upholding Bitcoin's immutability principle, as favored by ideological purists. Carter's preferred "third way" is a legal salvage process: a U.S. quantum leader, under court authority, would recover the coins into a trust-like structure to return them to rightful owners or hold them neutrally, avoiding protocol-level confiscation. He believes the freeze camp may prevail due to Bitcoin's increased institutional dominance but warns such an action would fundamentally change Bitcoin.

bitcoinist04/17 17:02

Nic Carter Says Bitcoin Has 3 Ways To Handle Satoshi’s Coins

bitcoinist04/17 17:02

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