Crackdown on Crypto-Funded Piracy

Europol, in partnership with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the Spanish National Police, has successfully identified and disrupted numerous digital piracy operations financed through cryptocurrencies. This initiative, part of the “Intellectual Property Crime Cyber-Patrol Week” held from November 10 to 14, 2025, took place at the EUIPO headquarters in Alicante, Spain.

During this operation, 30 investigators utilized advanced Open-Source Intelligence Techniques (OSINT) and cutting-edge online investigative tools to pinpoint potential intellectual property infringements. This led to the identification of 69 sites, with 25 illicit IPTV services subsequently referred to crypto service providers for disruption. An estimated $55 million (over €47 million) in cryptocurrency transactions were traced, linked to the annual traffic of approximately 11.8 million visitors among the targeted sites. Continued investigations are in place for several services, as the criminals shift towards using cryptocurrencies for their transactions, believing it provides anonymity.

The Cyber-Patrol Week aimed not only at enforcement but also at fostering innovation and exchange of best practices among more than 15 countries and various private sector organizations. This collaborative effort significantly enhances the capability to anticipate and combat intellectual property crime across the global digital landscape. The operations highlight the EU’s commitment to an integrated, cross-border approach in tackling such sophisticated crimes, ensuring a safer and more secure digital environment for creators and economies worldwide.