In a joint operation, the Frankfurt Main Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) confirmed that the seizure occurred on April 30, 2025. The move followed a detailed investigation into the platform’s failure to comply with anti-money laundering (AML) obligations.
The officials said eXch operated without collecting user data or verifying identities, allowing anonymous and untraceable transactions.
The prosecutors are now accusing the platform’s operators of running an illegal online trading service and engaging in commercial money laundering.
Dr. Benjamin Krause, Chief Public Prosecutor at the Central Office for Combating Cybercrime (ZIT), noted that crypto-swapping services like eXch are routinely exploited to hide profits from cyberattacks and stolen payment data.
Considering this, he said:
“It is therefore all the more important that law enforcement agencies consistently take action against such quick and anonymous opportunities for money laundering of any amount and deprive perpetrators of the proceeds of the crime.”
Although eXch announced its closure on May 1, claiming it was under international pressure, German investigators said they used the timing to secure evidence and advance their probe.
The firm said API access remained active for partners, and on-chain activity revealed suspicious movements. Notably, over $300,000 in funds linked to child sexual abuse material (CSAM) reportedly passed through the platform’s infrastructure.
It added:
“It’s unclear whether eXch will completely shut down its remaining API operations or resume operations as a new service. However, the remaining API access continues to provide anonymization infrastructure for threat actors.”
