Bit2Me, Spain’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, has introduced Bit2Shield, a new service aimed at helping law enforcement trace, secure, and liquidate seized digital assets. This specialized unit formalizes Bit2Me’s cooperation with authorities and addresses the increasing complexity of crypto investigations.
Bit2Shield strengthens crypto tracing capabilities
Legally registered as CryptoShield S.L., Bit2Shield provides support to courts, police departments, and financial institutions during cryptocurrency investigations. Its services include wallet analysis, asset tracing, forensic data extraction, and preparation of digitally signed reports for legal proceedings.
The unit also offers assistance with fraud investigations, verification of funds’ origins, and specialized training for police officers, judges, and banking entities. Investigative operations are led by Adrián Maroño, a former investigator of the Spanish Civil Guard.
Throughout 2025, Bit2Me processed approximately €1.5 million in seized cryptocurrency for agencies such as Interpol, Europol, and Spanish police. Chainalysis supplied blockchain tracing support before Bit2Me converted the recovered assets into euros.
Upon seizure, Bit2Shield places digital assets in multisignature cold wallets until authorities authorize their disposal. The MiCA-authorized Bitcoinforme entity, operated by Bit2Me, then oversees the conversion of crypto to euros and transfers the proceeds to government accounts.
Bit2Shield will enhance law enforcement efforts against crypto-enabled crime by providing secure custody, advanced forensic analysis, and reliable liquidation of assets during legal proceedings.
Rising demand amid surge in crypto fraud
The rise of sophisticated digital crime in Europe has increased the need for expert tracing and recovery solutions. Chainalysis reported that scams and fraud reached $17 billion in stolen cryptocurrency during 2025.
Impersonation scams grew sharply, surging more than 1,400% year-over-year, while AI-powered fraud outperformed conventional schemes. This development has intensified the pressure on authorities to advance blockchain tracing and enhance asset recovery procedures.
Spain continues to face significant cybercrime threats. Data from the Spanish government show 488,426 cybercrimes were recorded in 2025, accounting for nearly a fifth of all reported crimes. Of these, cyber fraud made up 429,677 cases, or almost nine out of ten cybercrime reports.
Recent investigations highlight the value of blockchain intelligence. In August, Chainalysis traced 29,120 crypto addresses and digital identifiers linked to over 100 platforms associated with illicit material distribution, generating 14,300 leads and identifying more than 7,700 suspect accounts.
Physical seizures also illustrate the necessity of advanced custodial processes. In April, Spanish police recovered around €400,000 in cryptocurrency found in cold wallets hidden inside a wall-mounted thermometer during a piracy investigation in Almería.
Bit2Me expands institutional infrastructure
The introduction of Bit2Shield signals Bit2Me’s ongoing shift toward providing institutional and government-focused crypto infrastructure. The exchange continues to strengthen collaborations with banks and aligns its operations with Europe’s advancing MiCA regulations.
Bit2Me’s partnership with Cecabank, which offers a regulated platform for financial institutions, supports institutional crypto infrastructure. Renta 4 Banco became among the first organizations to use the platform as it rolled out digital asset trading to clients.
In 2025, Tether led a €30 million funding round for Bit2Me, with participation from Bankinter, Unicaja, Cecabank, and Telefónica.
The demand for specialized custody also stems from violent attacks on cryptocurrency holders. Chainalysis estimates that over $30 million was stolen through such incidents during the first half of 2026.
Bit2Shield is expected to provide a structured process encompassing identification, seizure, custody, investigation, and asset liquidation. However, its overall effectiveness will depend on collaboration between exchanges, investigators, courts, and international agencies.
These trends underscore a growing need for robust, private-sector infrastructure to support authorities and ensure secure digital asset custody. In a market where a single Fed decision or a sudden altcoin listing can change everything in seconds, jumping between different apps for charts, news, and portfolio tracking is costing investors money. Smart traders are now utilizing privacy-first tools like CryptoAppsy to consolidate everything. Without even the hassle of creating an account, you get real-time charts, smart price alerts, coin-specific news, and critical macro data all on one screen.
