US seizes $400M in crypto from Helix darknet mixer
6.7 Security U.S. authorities seized over $400M in assets from Helix, a darknet crypto mixer used for laundering. The operator pleaded guilty and received a prison sentence.
U.S. authorities have completed the forfeiture of over $400 million in assets connected to the Helix darknet cryptocurrency mixer. Helix operated from 2014 to 2017, processing around 354,468 Bitcoin—valued at approximately $311 million at the time. The mixer was widely used to launder proceeds from illegal activities, particularly those linked to online drug markets. Helix functioned by pooling and redistributing cryptocurrencies, effectively obscuring the origins and destinations of funds and making transactions difficult to trace. The seized assets include cryptocurrencies, real estate, and financial accounts. Larry Dean Harmon, the operator of Helix, pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy in 2021. In November 2024, he was sentenced to 36 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to forfeit funds and property. The Department of Justice’s action marks a significant move against illicit financial operations in the crypto sector.
