OKX Enforces Strict AML Controls on Huione Group Activity
- OKX enforces strict AML checks on Huione-linked activity after U.S. and U.K. sanctions.
- Authorities seized $15B in Bitcoin from Southeast Asian crypto scams tied to Huione.
- OKX strengthens compliance systems to maintain transparency and protect user trust.
The global crackdown on crypto crime has intensified. OKX exchange has enforced strict anti–money laundering (AML) controls targeting activity linked to the Huione Group. The announcement came after the United States and the United Kingdom sanctioned the group for its role in a vast Southeast Asian crypto scam network.
OKX CEO Star Xu said that the exchange will subject all deposits and withdrawals related to Huione to compliance investigations. He noted that the exchange may freeze or terminate accounts based on the results of those checks. Xu added that Huione’s actions have caused serious damage in the crypto space, prompting OKX to take decisive measures to protect users and uphold regulatory trust.
Global Crackdown Targets Asian Crypto Scam Network
The move by OKX follows a sweeping international crackdown on what authorities describe as one of the largest crypto scam networks in Southeast Asia. The operation targeted the Prince Group Transnational Criminal Organization (TCO) and its 146 affiliates. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the seizure of about $15 billion in Bitcoin linked to the network’s fraudulent schemes.
Prosecutors also unsealed an indictment against Chen Zhi, known as “Vincent,” who leads the Cambodia-based Prince Holding Group. According to the DOJ, Chen managed an extensive operation involved in online scams, forced labor, and large-scale money laundering. Officials described the action as a major milestone in dismantling transnational crime syndicates exploiting digital assets.
At the same time, the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and FinCEN worked with the U.K.’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) to sanction several key groups. These included the Prince Group TCO, the Jin Bei Group, and the Huione Group. Authorities linked these entities to “pig butchering” scams, illegal mining, and cross-border laundering.
Huione Group, in particular, was designated under Section 311 of the USA PATRIOT Act, cutting it off from the U.S. financial system. As a result, banks must block any direct or indirect transactions involving Huione or its affiliates.
OKX Strengthens Compliance as Enforcement Intensifies
Chainalysis data shows that Huione processed over $98 billion in cryptocurrency inflows between 2021 and 2025. Investigators estimate that about $4 billion came from illegal sources. The group is said to have used shell companies, over-the-counter brokers, and complicated transaction layers to conceal money trails.
Huione’s network extended into crypto mining through a firm called Warp Data Technology in Laos. Authorities said the mining operation redirected Bitcoin earnings into the same laundering pipeline. Funds from online scams and forced labor rings allegedly flowed through this network before being cleaned through crypto markets.
Related: DOJ Seizes 127K Bitcoin, Pushing US Crypto Reserve to $36B
The international enforcement action has increased scrutiny of exchanges handling cross-border transactions. OKX said in response that it would keep making its AML framework stronger to ensure transparency and regulatory compliance. Xu stressed that the company’s goal is to keep the platform safe and dependable so that both customers and regulators can trust it.
He also said that OKX’s internal systems will flag suspicious transactions tied to sanctioned entities for immediate review. Depending on the findings, OKX may freeze or close affected accounts. The company’s measures reflect a broader industry shift toward compliance as regulators tighten oversight of digital asset platforms.
OKX’s action comes at a time when many platforms face new expectations to screen transactions more rigorously and prevent illicit flows through their systems. The exchange’s strengthened AML policies underscore a growing recognition that digital asset security depends on both technology and accountability. As investigations continue, exchanges are expected to adopt even stricter measures to keep criminal activity out of the crypto economy.
