Europol and Partners Shut Down ‘Cryptomixer’, Seizing EUR 25 Million in Cryptocurrency
Zurich, December 1, 2025: Europol, in collaboration with law enforcement authorities from Switzerland and Germany, successfully dismantled the illegal cryptocurrency mixing service known as ‘Cryptomixer’ during an intense operation conducted from November 24 to 28, 2025. The operation culminated in the seizure of cryptocurrencies valued at approximately EUR 25 million, along with the confiscation of critical infrastructure including servers used by the service.
The crackdown took place in Zurich, Switzerland, where three servers operating the mixer were seized and taken under control. Cryptomixer functioned as an illicit cryptocurrency tumbling service, designed to obfuscate the origin of digital coins, thereby facilitating criminal activities such as money laundering and cybercrime.
What is Cryptomixer and How Does it Work?
Cryptomixer operated similarly to a physical money laundering process. Users would submit cryptocurrency to the mixer, which then pooled it with others’ funds and redistributed anonymized coins back to users. This process effectively washed the cryptocurrency by breaking the digital trail, making it difficult for authorities to trace the coins back to illicit origins.
According to Europol, this mechanism is akin to placing banknotes with fingerprints into a concrete mixer — after the process, the notes return with no identifiable prints, but remain the same value, disrupting the chain of custody and complicating investigations targeting criminal financial transactions.
Significance of the Operation
The operation represents a major step forward in Europe’s fight against financial crimes conducted via cryptocurrencies. Cryptomixer was suspected of aiding various forms of cybercrime including ransomware attacks, fraud, and illegal trading. The disruption of this mixing service is expected to hinder criminals’ ability to launder the proceeds of their crimes through digital assets.
Europol emphasized that by taking control of Cryptomixer’s entire infrastructure, law enforcement agencies now possess extensive insight into the service’s operations and users, potentially unveiling networks behind a wide range of criminal activities.
Collaboration Across Borders
This coordinated action week highlights the importance of international cooperation in addressing the cross-border nature of cybercrime. Authorities from multiple countries, facilitated by Europol’s support, combined efforts to dismantle infrastructure that spans different jurisdictions, demonstrating a unified stance against the misuse of emerging technologies for illicit purposes.
Looking Ahead
Experts view the shutdown of Cryptomixer as a potential turning point in the wider battle against money laundering and cyber-enabled crimes in Europe. It sends a clear message that sophisticated criminal tools exploiting cryptocurrency networks will not be tolerated and will be met with decisive enforcement action.
Europol continues to urge vigilance and cooperation among public and private sectors to trace and combat illicit financial flows in the digital economy, aiming to ensure transparency and security in emerging financial technologies.
Sources: Europol press release and official statements (November 2025).