Operation Lighthouse Generates 14,000 Crypto Crime Leads Across 125 Countries
Sophia Bennett
Operation Lighthouse focused on crypto-enabled child sexual abuse material (CSAM) networks.
Chainalysis said on August 25, 2026 that the multi-day operation generated 14,300 investigative leads across 11 cryptocurrency exchanges and payment services. It also identified 7,700+ suspect accounts in 125 countries, including 16 registered sex offenders, according to Chainalysis.
Chainalysis said the figures represent separate investigative stages—digital identifiers examined, accounts identified and leads passed to services—and should not be treated as interchangeable counts.
Data Snapshot
| Metric | Current | Previous | Change | Period | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Investigative leads generated | 14,300 | — | — | Operation Lighthouse | August 25, 2026 | Chainalysis |
| Suspect accounts identified | 7,700+ | — | — | Operation Lighthouse | August 25, 2026 | Chainalysis |
| Countries with suspects identified | 125 countries | — | — | Operation Lighthouse | August 25, 2026 | Chainalysis |
| Cryptocurrency addresses and digital identifiers investigated | 29,120 | — | — | Operation Lighthouse | August 25, 2026 | Chainalysis |
| CSAM platforms, forums, and distribution networks targeted | more than 100 distinct | — | — | Operation Lighthouse | August 25, 2026 | Chainalysis |
| Law enforcement agencies convened | 9+ | — | — | Operation Lighthouse | August 25, 2026 | Chainalysis |
29,120 identifiers linked to more than 100 CSAM networks
Investigators examined 29,120 cryptocurrency addresses and digital identifiers during Operation Lighthouse. They targeted more than 100 distinct CSAM platforms, forums and distribution networks across the surface web and dark web, according to Chainalysis.
The operation’s stated remit extended to consumers, vendors, marketplace operators and administrators within crypto-enabled CSAM networks. That scope places the address-level investigation behind the 14,300 leads generated for exchanges and payment services.
Blockchain investigation visualization associated with Operation Lighthouse. — Source: Chainalysis
7,700+ suspect accounts identified in 125 countries
Chainalysis reported the identification of 7,700+ suspect accounts across 125 countries. The account figure included 16 registered sex offenders.
The figures measure different things. Suspect accounts were identified during the operation, whereas the 14,300 investigative leads were generated across 11 cryptocurrency exchanges and payment services; neither total corresponds one-for-one with the 29,120 addresses and digital identifiers investigated.
Public-private coordination at the New York crypto-intelligence sprint
Operation Lighthouse was a multi-day crypto-intelligence sprint led by Chainalysis and hosted at the National Cyber-Forensics and Training Alliance in New York. The initiative brought together law enforcement agencies, private-sector partners and specialised nonprofits in a coordinated public-private effort.
Participants disclosed by Chainalysis included Europol, the Australian Federal Police, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the UK National Crime Agency, Binance, Coinbase, Block and the Internet Watch Foundation. The sprint convened 9+ law enforcement agencies.
The figures show the operational scale of the investigation: 29,120 cryptocurrency addresses and digital identifiers examined, 7,700+ suspect accounts identified and 14,300 leads generated for 11 cryptocurrency exchanges and payment services.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.
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