Cryptocurrency and records seized: US authorities seize $400 million from Helix blender

Justice has been served. The US Department of Justice (DoJ) has taken an important step in fighting financial crimes based on blockchain . On January 21, 2026, Judge Beryl A. Howell signed the final forfeiture order, officially transferring ownership of more than $400 million in assets to the state. This amount, which includes cryptocurrency, real estate and money market funds, was formed as a result of the liquidation of Helix, one of the most influential mixing services on the darknet.

Key points of this article:

• The US Department of Justice has seized more than $400 million worth of assets linked to the Helix crypto service, a major player in darknet money laundering.
• The conviction of Larry Dean Harmon, the creator of Helix, and the seizure of assets demonstrate the resilience and effectiveness of the US authorities in the fight against financial crimes on the blockchain.

A key player in laundering cryptocurrency money for drug markets Working from 2014 to 2017, Helix has proven itself as the best tool for cybercriminals to anonymize its financial flows. As a service mixing (or tumbler), Helix aggregated the transactions of thousands of users to disrupt the tracking of funds on the blockchain.

Larry Dean Harmon its creator, optimized the service by creating API which allowed the darknet of drug-trafficking platforms to be directly integrated mixing process to their withdrawal systems. According to court documents, Helix processed a total of approx 354,468 Bitcoins which at that time was equivalent 300 million dollars . Harmon, who received a commission on each transaction, admitted himself guilty in conspiracy to launder money in 2021.

Its conviction delivered in November 2024, included 36 months in prison imprisonment and full confiscation of the profits obtained from his illegal activities. The withdrawal of this $400 million is the result of a complex investigation conducted by the Cybercrime Division of the IRS-CI and the FBI.

US Authorities Seize Over $400 Million in Helix Assets – Source: Account X

International cooperation and technological traceability The investigator managed to successfully trace tens of millions of dollars from trading platforms darknet to the servers Helix . The success of the operation also relied on international logistical support, in particular from the Ministry of Justice Belize and its national police forces, with whom the embassy coordinated cooperation USA .

It decision is part of a policy to strengthen the CCIPS division of the Ministry of Justice, which since 2020 has ensured conviction more than 180 cybercriminals. By taking legal ownership of these seized assets, the US government is sending a clear signal: the use of so-called technologies obfuscation no longer guarantees financial impunity.

Authorities demonstrate their ability to confiscate digital fortunes even after the violators closed their services. Final decision on confiscation in the case Helix illustrates the growing power of forensic analysis tools applied to blockchain .

By depriving Larry Dean Harmon of his earnings, the US justice system has won a major victory over the darknet infrastructure. This case highlights that blockchain transparency combined with close international cooperation remains the most effective weapon against large-scale money laundering .