How much USDT did DOJ target?

TLDR

The U.S. Department of Justice targeted about $15.1 million in Tether (USDT) for forfeiture tied to North Korean-linked hacks. DOJ filing.

1. Two civil forfeiture complaints seek to keep roughly $15.1 million in USDT linked to APT38 hacks. Report.
2. The FBI seized the funds in March 2025; DOJ now seeks court approval to return them to victims. Coverage.
3. The USDT traces to four 2023 crypto platform breaches attributed to APT38. Summary.

Deep Dive

1. Amount And Legal Move

DOJ is pursuing forfeiture of about $15.1 million in USDT, a legal step that permanently transfers seized assets to the government for victim restitution once approved by a court. This comes via two civil forfeiture complaints focused on funds from North Koreas APT38 operations targeting crypto platforms in 2023. DOJ filing coverage.

2. Source Of Funds

Authorities say the USDT was stolen in a series of 2023 breaches tied to APT38 and later traced across bridges, mixers, and exchanges. The FBI initially seized the assets in March 2025, and prosecutors are now moving to have them forfeited and returned to victims. CoinDesk report. Additional reporting notes links to four major 2023 incidents, though the exact platforms were not formally named in the filings. Details.

3. Why It Matters

This is a targeted action against allegedly stolen funds, not a blanket action against Tether or USDT holders. The emphasis is on disrupting sanctioned actors laundering flows and routing recovered assets back to victims.

Conclusion

DOJs move centers on about $15.1 million in USDT tied to APT38, reflecting a focused effort to seize and forfeit illicit crypto rather than restrict USDT broadly. If approved, the funds would be positioned for victim restitution, reinforcing a pattern of targeted enforcement against specific addresses and laundering routes.