Chainalysis-led operation flags 7,700 accounts in child abuse probe

Blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis said a global operation it led identified more than 7,700 suspect accounts linked to child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

According to a Tuesday press release shared with Cointelegraph, 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 also generated 14,300 investigative leads across 11 crypto exchanges and payment services and flagged suspects across 125 countries. Among the suspects identified were 16 registered sex offenders.

Tom McLouth, senior intelligence analyst at Chainalysis, said the suspect pool also included military personnel, law enforcement officers, medical professionals and educators, including individuals with direct access to children.

“Behind every lead is a real child at risk,” he told Cointelegraph.

The multi-day sprint was hosted at the National Cyber-Forensics and Training Alliance in New York after months of data enrichment. It brought together law enforcement agencies, private-sector partners and specialized nonprofits, including Europol, the UK National Crime Agency, Binance, Coinbase, Block and the Internet Watch Foundation.