Australia Operation Ironside Enters Phase 3: $38M Crypto Seized

Australia Operation Ironside Phase 3 After Court Backs AN0M Evidence

South Australia Police have arrested 55 suspects and filed around 800 new criminal charges in the latest phase of Operation Ironside, a massive investigation that uses data from an FBI-built encrypted app called AN0M.

South Australia Operation Ironside Phase 3 was launched soon after the High Court ruled that messages gathered from the app could legally be used as evidence in court.

Source: Wu Blockchain X

What Is Operation Ironside?

Operation Ironside is a joint investigation between the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). It began in 2018 and was designed to expose global organized crime networks.

The FBI secretly created a supposedly “secure” communication app called AN0M and distributed it through criminal circles. The app was installed on modified smartphones that had no camera, GPS, or browser — making them look like ideal tools for hidden criminal communication.

Criminals believed AN0M was safe, but the FBI had built a secret backdoor. All messages exchanged in the app were automatically copied and forwarded to the law enforcement agencies.

In the period between 2018 and 2021, the authorities intercepted over 19 million messages, which were sent by approximately 1,600 devices in Australia, resulting in hundreds of arrests across the globe.

The High Court Consent Paves the Way to New Arrests.

The High Court of Australia affirmed in October 2025 that the AN0M messages had been collected legally and could be used in criminal proceedings. The decision was reached following an appeal by two suspects against the legality of the surveillance, but their arguments were dismissed.

The court gave the green light to Phase 3 of Operation Ironside, which was aimed at individuals who engage in drug trafficking, smuggling weapons, conspiracy, and money laundering.

Deputy Commissioner Linda Williams said the court decision “paved the way for us to go to resolution today,” allowing investigators to act on intelligence that had been collected years earlier.

Crypto at the Center of the Investigation

A major part of the operation involves tracking and seizing cryptocurrency linked to illegal activities. According to AFP estimates, crypto seizures tied to Operation Ironside now total about A$58 million (US$37.9 million).

Police used advanced digital tools, including a system known as “Crypto Safe Cracker,” to access wallets and recover funds from criminal networks.

Global Concern Over Criminal Use of Crypto

Law enforcement agencies worldwide are warning about the growing misuse of digital Assets. Europol’s Financial and Economic Crime Centre recently said that malicious use of crypto and blockchain technology is becoming “increasingly sophisticated,” putting pressure on investigators.

Mistrust in the Public and the Future.

Although the Australian government is developing effective crypto regulations, the public is not convinced. About 60% of Australians indicate that they do not trust cryptocurrencies primarily due to the link with fraud and criminal activities.

The Ironside, which was initiated through Phase 3, remains one of the most important operations in Australia to combat organized crime. Digital intelligence, international collaboration, and crypto-tracking technologies have demonstrated how law enforcement is changing with the times to address the challenges of the new age.