Australian Federal Police Confiscate Bitcoin and Mansion Tied to Suspected Crypto Exchange Breach

Key Takeaways: 

• Australian Federal Police seize over $4.5 million in assets, including nearly 25 Bitcoins and a luxury mansion.
• Investigation connects assets to the 2013 theft of 950 Bitcoins from a French crypto exchange.
• Criminal gangs and Bitcoin ATM thieves have also been arrested as part of broader crackdowns.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has seized over $4.5 million in assets tied to a cryptocurrency exchange hack. The Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce (CACT) took nearly 25 Bitcoins, a luxury waterfront home in Queensland, and a high-end car.

Commonwealth Law Emerges as Top Beneficiary in Asset Seizures

On May 18, the AFP announced the court had ordered the assets forfeited. 

The Queensland District Court approved the seizure on April 25 under the Proceeds of Crime Act. This law lets the government take property suspected of being linked to crime, even without a conviction. If evidence suggests illegal activity, authorities can freeze and confiscate assets.

The AFP’s CACT led the case, which began in 2018. That year, Luxembourg police tipped off Australia’s financial watchdog, AUSTRAC, about suspicious Bitcoin transactions.

Investigators traced the funds to a Queensland resident with a prior conviction for hacking a U.S. gaming company.

As they dug deeper, they found possible ties between the suspect and a 2013 French crypto exchange breach, where cyber criminals stole 950 Bitcoins in that attack.

Even without formal charges, the AFP moved forward. Under the Proceeds of Crime Act, they could freeze assets suspected of being criminal profits.

The AFP-led Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce (CACT) has secured the forfeiture of more than $4.5 million worth of assets, including a Queensland waterfront mansion, luxury car and Bitcoin, after identifying them as suspected proceeds of crime. https://t.co/Wglk0m5K50

— AFP (@AusFedPolice) May 17, 2025

In July 2023, officers secured restraining orders covering a luxury mansion in Beachmere, a 2019 Mercedes-Benz, and nearly 25 Bitcoins. 

Authorities said the wealth didn’t match legitimate earnings.

In April 2025, the court agreed. The items were ruled as proceeds of crime and officially forfeited.

AFP Commander Jason Kennedy said the agency is focused on cutting off criminal profits. He said seizing assets is key to stopping cybercrime.

The AFP didn’t name the owner, but 7NEWS identified him as Shane Stephen Duffy, a convicted hacker. In 2016, Duffy admitted to fraud and stealing League of Legends players’ data for profit.

Since 2019, CACT has frozen over $1.2 billion in criminal assets. These include homes, cars, yachts, luxury goods, and lots of cryptocurrency.

Authorities sell seized items and funnel the cash into a crime-fighting fund, boosting police operations and prevention programs.

Federal Crackdown Widens to Target Criminal Gangs and Fraudulent Executives

This seizure marks just one battle in Australia's wider war against crypto-related crime.

In February 2025, Australia’s police raided a criminal gang operating across Melbourne. Their targets were specific. Bitcoin ATMs and specialty collector card shops.

Police have dismantled an organised crime syndicate allegedly involved in a series of commercial burglaries targeting crypto ATMs and collector cards across Melbourne’s north west. pic.twitter.com/Y4jVw29XoH

— Victoria Police (@VictoriaPolice) February 16, 2025

They uncovered stolen goods in bulk: firearms, a pill press, over 100 car keys, and power tools.

The problem grows more urgent as Bitcoin ATMs become a favorite tool for scammers. 

Recent U.S. data shows these machines drained $65 million from victims in just six months.