In a significant crackdown on piracy, police in Almería, Spain, have raided the country’s largest illegal distribution platform for Spanish-language manga, seizing two cryptocurrency cold wallets containing approximately €400,000 (around AU$655,000). These wallets were cunningly concealed within wall thermometers, underscoring the lengths to which those involved in piracy will go to hide their assets.
The authorities commenced their investigation in mid-2025 following complaints from intellectual property rights holders regarding the platform’s ongoing operations. This illicit distribution site allowed users free access to pirated Japanese and Korean comics, collectively known as manga. It had reportedly been active for nearly ten years, generating an estimated €4 million (around AU$6.55 million) primarily through advertising revenue.
During this operation, three individuals were arrested, further highlighting the serious implications surrounding illegal digital content distribution in Spain. Despite the successful seizure of the cryptocurrency, it remains unclear if the Spanish authorities will be able to access the funds contained within the cold wallets.
The rise in the utilisation of cryptocurrency, particularly cold wallets, among criminals—regardless of their specific activities—has become a notable trend, as exemplified by this case. Criminals are increasingly leveraging secure digital wallets to hide their ill-gotten gains, indicating a shift in operations even for those whose crimes do not centre on cryptocurrencies per se.
While Spanish officials have not disclosed the name of the platform involved, piracy news outlet TorrentFreak recently reported that Tu Manga Online (TMO), a prominent Spanish-language manga site, has ceased operations due to legal pressures. This action was spurred by the Korean copyright enforcement agency COA and the global anti-piracy firm IP House, both of which confirmed their involvement alongside Spanish law enforcement.
In a study by Deepsee, it was revealed that TMO garnered a staggering billion views in November 2024 alone across various domains, highlighting the significant reach of such piracy platforms. The successful operation against this manga distribution site exemplifies the continuous battle against online piracy and the measures taken to protect intellectual property rights.
Authorities remain vigilant, as the ongoing efforts to combat digital piracy reflect the increasing complexities of copyright enforcement in the digital era.
