US Seizes Cloud Account of Huione Group, Labels It Major Criminal Marketplace
The U.S. Justice Department announced the seizure of a cloud computing account used by subsidiaries of Cambodia's Huione Group, which prosecutors described as one of the world's most prolific criminal marketplaces. The account hosted backend infrastructure for Huione Guarantee, a Telegram-based marketplace facilitating stolen data, laundering services, and tools for Southeast Asian scam operations. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva stated the seizure struck a blow against a technological backbone that allowed billions in fraud proceeds to be moved and concealed. This action is part of broader efforts against Huione, which the Treasury's FinCEN previously designated as a primary money laundering concern. On the same day, FinCEN moved to extend its ban to successor entity H-Pay Service PLC to prevent circumvention. Blockchain analysts have called Huione Guarantee the largest illicit online marketplace, surpassing dark-web predecessors. Crypto-related fraud continues to rise, with Americans reporting over $7.2 billion in losses from crypto investment fraud in 2025. The case, investigated by the FBI and IRS, is part of Operation Riptide targeting online fraud infrastructure. Huione has shown resilience by launching its own stablecoin, USDH, and shifting activity to affiliated platforms under enforcement pressure.
Key facts
- US seized cloud account hosting backend for Huione Guarantee, a Telegram-based criminal marketplace.
- Huione Group accused of laundering billions from crypto investment fraud and cyber scams.
- FinCEN extended ban to successor entity H-Pay Service PLC to prevent evasion.
- Crypto investment fraud losses reported to FBI exceeded $7.2 billion in 2025.
- Operation Riptide targets infrastructure behind online fraud; Chainalysis and Elliptic assisted.