Blockchain investigator ZachXBT has claimed that Tether froze $72 million in USDT linked to a $120 million wallet, with the action coinciding with a notable surge in Monero’s price.
What ZachXBT Claimed About Tether’s $72 Million Freeze
The on-chain sleuth, known for tracing illicit crypto flows, attributed the freeze to Tether’s compliance operations targeting a wallet holding approximately $120 million in USDT. The frozen portion, $72 million, represents a significant share of the wallet’s total balance.
Tether has a track record of freezing wallets flagged for suspicious activity. In April 2026, the stablecoin issuer froze $344 million in USDT on the Tron network tied to illicit activity, demonstrating the company’s willingness to act on compliance requests. The latest freeze follows a similar pattern, though the specific blockchain and circumstances behind the $120 million wallet have not been fully disclosed.
The incident also echoes earlier cases where large-scale social engineering attacks led to substantial crypto theft. In January 2026, a hacker stole $282 million through a hardware wallet social engineering attack, highlighting the ongoing vulnerability of high-value crypto holders. Whether the frozen wallet is connected to a similar exploit remains unclear.
Why the XMR Surge Adds Context to the Wallet Freeze
ZachXBT has previously linked sudden Monero price spikes to large-scale hacks. In April 2025, the investigator suggested that a Monero price surge was likely attributable to a large hack, where stolen funds were being swapped into XMR to exploit its privacy features.
That episode saw Monero hit an all-time high, with ZachXBT’s analysis suggesting the price move was driven by conversion of stolen assets rather than organic demand. The privacy coin’s design makes tracing funds significantly harder once they are swapped from transparent chains.
The timing of the latest Tether freeze alongside another XMR surge raises similar questions. If funds from the flagged wallet were partially converted to Monero before the freeze took effect, recovering the full amount could prove difficult. Tether’s ability to freeze USDT only applies to tokens still sitting in identifiable wallets, not to assets already moved into privacy-focused cryptocurrencies.
The case underscores an ongoing tension in crypto security: stablecoin issuers like Tether can act as chokepoints for illicit flows, as seen in cases like the Bithumb CEO bribery investigation and broader exchange compliance crackdowns, but their reach ends where privacy coins begin. For investors tracking stablecoin risks alongside developments like recent Bitcoin ETF outflows and Strategy’s stance on Bitcoin holdings, the freeze serves as a reminder that centralized stablecoin controls remain a double-edged tool in the fight against crypto crime.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency and digital asset markets carry significant risk. Always do your own research before making decisions.