Partnership leverages blockchain intelligence to trace illicit funds and support global law enforcement actions to dismantle criminal infrastructure
AMSTERDAM – September 4, 2026 – Irdeto, a CANAL+ company and the global leader in digital video platform experiences and security, and Chainalysis, the blockchain data platform, today reaffirmed the strength of their ongoing partnership to combat digital piracy and cryptocurrency-enabled cybercrime.
As pirate operators increasingly turn to cryptocurrency to monetize illicit IPTV, streaming, and gaming services, the two companies are leading a new generation of anti-piracy investigations, one that fuses blockchain intelligence, payment disruption, and cross-border law enforcement coordination.
Irdeto's Cyber Services team operates one of the most established anti-piracy investigation practices in the industry, supporting major rights holders, broadcasters, sports leagues, and streaming platforms worldwide. Its intelligence-led approach combines forensic investigation, infrastructure analysis, content protection technology, and payment disruption to dismantle pirate operations at every layer of their business model.
By integrating Chainalysis Reactor into this framework, Irdeto analysts can now trace cryptocurrency transactions, pinpoint exchange cash-out points, map financial relationships between pirate operators, and cut off the monetization channels that allow criminal piracy ecosystems to scale.
Independent research reflects what Irdeto and Chainalysis see on the ground every day. Enders Analysis found that the piracy ecosystem now constitutes a direct threat to broadcaster profitability, and that combating it remains a formidable challenge.
"Piracy has evolved into a sophisticated criminal business, and cryptocurrency is now central to how that business operates," said Mark Mulready, VP of Cyber Services at Irdeto. "Our work with Chainalysis lets us follow the money, expose the networks behind these operations, and support enforcement actions that have real impact."
Chainalysis is the blockchain data platform trusted by government agencies, financial institutions, and leading enterprises worldwide to investigate, prevent, and disrupt cryptocurrency-related crime. Its AI-powered technology supports some of the most significant cyber and financial crime investigations globally, and the company is rapidly expanding its footprint in the copyright and video entertainment sector.
Despite common misconceptions, cryptocurrency transactions are highly traceable when investigators have the right tools. Chainalysis tools allow Irdeto teams to surface suspicious transaction patterns, cluster wallets tied to illicit activity and turn raw blockchain data into trusted actionable intelligence, dramatically shortening investigation timelines.
A turning point: the November 2025 Europol operation
The partnership played a key role in a coordinated international operation led by Europol in November 2025, which brought together law enforcement from more than 15 European countries alongside leading audiovisual and cryptocurrency-sector partners. The operation:
- Identified 69 piracy-related sites
- Traced approximately US$ 55 million in cryptocurrency transactions
- Referred 25 illicit IPTV services to major cryptocurrency exchanges for disruption
Intelligence gathered in the past year by Irdeto also found that cryptocurrency now accounts for roughly 20% of all payment methods offered by digital pirates, underscoring the deepening convergence between piracy and financial cybercrime.
"These industrialized piracy groups are adopting cryptocurrency for the same reasons legitimate users do: speed, global reach, and liquidity. But the critical difference is that these funds can be traced on the blockchain. With Chainalysis data, tools and expertise, illicit financial flows can be identified and followed, enabling law enforcement and the private sector to work together to detect, deter and disrupt entire piracy ecosystems. That's exactly what our partnership with Irdeto is designed to enable," said Scott Johnston, Director of Business Development, Chainalysis.
For more information about Irdeto's anti-piracy and cybersecurity solutions, visit Irdeto website.
About Irdeto
Irdeto, a CANAL+ company, is the world leader in digital platform security, offering solutions and services that enable customers to protect their revenue, create new offerings and fight cybercrime effectively. With more than 50 years of experience, Irdeto is the leading solutions and services provider for content, video broadcast and streaming services, partnering with movie studios, sports rights holders, and OTT and broadcast operators across the content value chain. With a unique pay-TV operator heritage, Irdeto is the preferred partner to empower a secure world where people can connect with confidence. For more information, please visit Irdeto.
About Chainalysis
Chainalysis is the blockchain data platform, making it easy to connect the movement of digital assets to real-world services. Powered by deep blockchain data and AI, organizations can investigate illicit activity, manage risk exposure, and develop innovative market solutions built on the industry's most trusted blockchain intelligence. Our mission is to build trust in blockchains, blending safety and security with an unwavering commitment to growth and innovation. For more information, visit chainalysis.com.
Not for publication
For more information, contact:
Irdeto Media Team
Daniel Butschek and Sabrina Orlov
media@irdeto.com
Tel. +31 6 2765 0973
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