A coordinated strike on crypto-funded abuse networks Blockchain intelligence firm @chainalysis has organized what it describes as a first-of-its-kind public-private sprint to dismantle crypto
Blockchain intelligence firm @chainalysis has organized what it describes as a first-of-its-kind public-private sprint to dismantle cryptocurrency-enabled child sexual abuse material (CSAM) networks. Dubbed Operation Lighthouse, the multi-day effort was anchored at the National Cyber-Forensics and Training Alliance in New York and brought together a broad coalition of exchanges, payments firms and global law enforcement agencies.
The operation partnered with law enforcement agencies around the world, including Europol, the Australian Federal Police, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the UK's National Crime Agency.@binance's investigations team was among the private-sector participants, alongside @coinbase and payments firm Block.
Operation Lighthouse investigated 29,120 crypto addresses and digital identifiers connected to over 100 CSAM platforms, forums and distribution networks across the surface and dark web.The operation generated 14,300 investigative leads across 11 crypto exchanges and payment services and flagged over 7,700 suspect accounts.Suspects were located in 125 different countries, and some of them were already registered sex offenders.
Chainalysis expects the leads generated during the sprint to feed arrests and prosecutions well into 2027, underscoring the long tail of accountability that typically follows large-scale blockchain intelligence operations.
The effort builds on a track record of blockchain tracing in similar investigations. In 2019, the US Justice Department announced the takedown of Welcome to Video, described at the time as the largest darknet child sexual exploitation market by volume. Authorities traced Bitcoin payments to locate the server in South Korea and identify its administrator. The investigation led to 337 users being arrested and charged, the rescue of at least 23 victims and the seizure of around eight terabytes of material.
More recently, 2025 saw significant law enforcement successes, including the takedown of KidFlix by German authorities and increased arrests of CSAM consumers across the United States. These cases demonstrate how blockchain analysis can provide critical evidence for identifying, investigating and prosecuting both operators and consumers of CSAM networks.
Operation Lighthouse signals a sharpening of the industry's response to crypto-enabled exploitation, with major exchanges moving beyond compliance and into active investigative roles alongside global law enforcement.
Sources:CoinDesk: Chainalysis-run sting targets child exploitation networks with aid of Binance, CoinbaseCoinTelegraph: Chainalysis-Led Child Abuse Probe Flags 7,700 AccountsChainalysis: Crypto and Human Trafficking, 2026 Crypto Crime Report
