DOJ moves to seize $84M from Capstone accounts tied to Tether, Bitfinex

The U.S. Department of Justice is seeking to seize about $84 million through civil forfeiture from accounts held by Montana-based payments firm Capstone, which is tied to Tether and Bitfinex, Bitcoin.com reported. Prosecutors claim Capstone operated an unlicensed money transmission business in at least six states and misrepresented itself to banks as an IT services provider. According to the Financial Times, Capstone helped Tether and Bitfinex open U.S. bank accounts and handle payments through EQIBank, and more than $700 million was transferred through its Wells Fargo accounts. Capstone is also accused of helping convert cash stolen through fraud schemes targeting elderly victims into stablecoins.