Ripple has signed on as a founding member of the Beacon network, a system built to spot and stop crypto theft as it happens. It’s a move that puts a big-name company behind a new, automated method for tracking stolen funds. Short answer: it tries to catch criminals before they cash out. Beacon Offers Real-Time Alerts According to TRM Labs, the Beacon network watches flagged addresses and follows funds as they move from wallet to wallet and across different blockchains. The system sends real-time alerts to exchanges and financial firms when suspicious coins approach points where they might be cashed out. That means transfers can be noticed 24/7, and alerts arrive before funds leave an exchange. It’s not just a fancy tracker; it is made to act as an early warning system for companies that can freeze assets quickly. Ripple is proud to be a founding member of @trmlabs ’ Beacon Network — a first-of-its-kind real-time crypto crime response network. Working with industry & law enforcement, Beacon helps stop illicit funds before they exit the blockchain. Learn more: https://t.co/6Yp7IpY6Dd https://t.co/EQ0b9yFkks — Ripple (@Ripple) August 20, 2025 Major Exchanges Join In Reports have disclosed that several major platforms are already on board. Ripple, the San Francisco-based payments firm, sits alongside OKX, Crypto.com, and Anchorage Digital as inaugural members. TRM Labs also secured cooperation from Binance, Coinbase, and Kraken to share the real-time status of flagged addresses. The more firms that share information, the harder it becomes for launderers to slip through the gaps. This kind of cooperation speeds up investigations and gives law enforcement a better shot at recovering stolen coins. Real-World Pressure Test: The Bybit Heist According to reports about the February hack on Bybit, a gang tied to North Korea’s Lazarus Group made off with about $1.5 billion. That case shows why Beacon’s approach matters. Hackers used cross-chain tactics and quick movement to wash funds. When time is on the side of the thieves, freezing assets later often comes too late. Beacon aims to change that by alerting exchanges while the trail is still fresh. Gaps Remain Around Stablecoins Not everyone is a participant yet. TRM Labs did not list stablecoin issuers Tether and Circle among the initial collaborators. That’s important because stablecoins move a lot of stolen value and can be the vehicle for quick exits. If major stablecoin issuers don’t link into the system, criminals may still find ways to route funds through liquidity pools and corners of the market that aren’t watching. This is a weakness Beacon will need to close if it wants real effectiveness. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
