Spain police seize $467K crypto and shut illegal manga site earning $4.6M, exposing hidden wallets and global piracy network impact.
Spain has uncovered a hidden crypto stash during a major crackdown on illegal manga distribution. In a raid in Almereria, authorities confiscated approximately 467,000 of cryptocurrency. The operation also resulted in the arrest of 3 suspects who were associated with a big piracy network.

The raid was on the largest Spanish-language manga piracy site in the country, according to the Interior Ministry of Spain. The site has been in operation since 2014 and had millions of users worldwide. Therefore, it was a major contributor to illegal manga content to a large number of readers around the world.
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The police disclosed that the platform earned more than 4 million euros (4.6 million) in 10 years. This revenue was primarily through online advertisements displayed to users. In addition, there were frequent pop-up advertisements that would be shown whenever the user clicks or browses the site, which generated a lot of income.
Moreover, authorities said that a lot of the advertising material was unsuitable. There were numerous advertisements of adult content, and it was a cause of concern since most users were underage. As a result, the platform created both financial and social issues for authorities.
The case was initiated in June 2025 when the officers found the illegal site. Shortly thereafter, they affirmed that it was the biggest piracy portal in Spanish. This led to a full-scale operation by the authorities to trace those involved and halt further operations.
In the raid, the police discovered two crypto cold wallets that were concealed in a wall thermometer. These gadgets held a value of over $467,000 in cryptocurrency. Thus, the discovery emphasized the innovative approaches of criminals in concealing digital assets.
Moreover, the officers discovered a sophisticated technical infrastructure that was used to operate the site. The suspect was also constructing a new platform to increase operations. However, police stopped this plan before it could launch, preventing further illegal activity.
The police established that the suspects made more than 4.6 million dollars solely on the basis of advertising systems. This featured frequent pop-ups that earned revenue each time a user interacted. This made the platform very lucrative even though it was unlawful.
Meanwhile, the case has had a strong impact on the publishing industry. Piracy lowered the earnings of creators, publishers, and translators. It therefore discouraged the investment in new content and negatively affected the cultural sector as a whole.
The closure of the platform also resulted in significant responses on social media. Numerous users posted about the closure, some of whom received thousands of interactions. This reaction indicated the popularity of the site over the years.
Overall, the operation underscores the increasing connection between cryptocurrency and digital piracy. It also demonstrates how the police can trace and confiscate concealed assets. With such actions being continued by the authorities, illegal networks might struggle to work in the future.
The post Spain Uncovers $467K Crypto Stash in Major Manga Piracy Crackdown appeared first on Live Bitcoin News.

