Unmasking a Huge Child Sexual Abuse Material Site via Cryptocurrency Traces on Our Online Platform
In a significant development, a major child sexual abuse material (CSAM) website has come under investigation on the darkweb. This article provides an overview of the ongoing investigation and the measures being taken to combat online child exploitation.
The CSAM Website
The CSAM website, known for hosting a wide range of illicit content, offers multiple paid membership levels and uses QR codes to streamline crypto payments. The payments infrastructure of this website has over 5,800 cryptocurrency addresses, surpassing that of the 2017 "Welcome to Video" case in scale.
Investigation and Collaboration
The investigation into this website was initiated by a tip from UK law enforcement. Authorities involved in this case typically include the Bundeskriminalamt (Federal Criminal Police Office), state police forces such as Hamburg police, international law enforcement agencies including the FBI, and these bodies collaborate to identify perpetrators, dismantle networks, and track cryptocurrency transactions linked to such crimes.
Support and Assistance
Our website remains committed to supporting efforts to disrupt online child exploitation and is committed to helping investigators triage leads related to the CSAM website using Reactor and Data Solutions. Compliance teams are encouraged to review their CSAM alerting thresholds and reach out for assistance if needed. Law enforcement agencies and compliance teams can contact us for support related to this investigation.
Disclaimer
Our website does not endorse, approve, or recommend any third-party sites linked in this report. The information in this report is for informational purposes only and does not provide legal, tax, financial, or investment advice.
Ongoing Monitoring and Updates
Our website will continue to monitor cryptocurrency fund movements to and from this infrastructure and will provide updates to customers and partners as necessary. Customers may see an increase in KYT alerts related to exposure from this entity.
Activity and Duration
Activity on the CSAM website has continued at least until June 2025, suggesting it may still be active. The first crypto payments to this network were made in July 2022.
Commitment and Responsibility
Our website is committed to supporting efforts to combat online child exploitation and encourages all parties to take responsible actions to help dismantle such networks. This material is a testament to the ongoing fight against online child exploitation and the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies worldwide.
