Microsoft Disrupts USDT-Funded Phishing Network Targeting 75,000 Organizations
Microsoft's actions against YAM Store and phishing kits highlight a growing threat using Tether for illicit activities.
Microsoft's actions against YAM Store and phishing kits highlight a growing threat using Tether for illicit activities. Tether (USDT) is trading at $0.9989. This is an original TLT brief based on reporting by CryptoSlate, with live market data added, as of Sat, 17 Oct 2026 06:00:04 UTC.
This development underscores the increasing use of cryptocurrencies, particularly stablecoins like USDT, in cybercriminal operations, posing risks to organizations worldwide.
- Microsoft targeted YAM Store and phishing-kit services using USDT.
- The phishing network aimed to compromise 75,000 organizations.
- USDT's role in cybercrime raises concerns about stablecoin misuse.
- Market cap of USDT remains at $183.47B despite the news.
Microsoft has disrupted a phishing network that utilized USDT for its operations, targeting as many as 75,000 organizations. The tech giant took down the YAM Store and related phishing-kit services, which were reportedly using 
Tether for transactions.
The operation's scale and the use of USDT highlight the growing trend of cybercriminals leveraging cryptocurrencies for illicit activities. This incident raises concerns about the potential misuse of stablecoins in cyberattacks.
According to CryptoSlate, the exact amount of USDT involved in the operation remains undisclosed, and it is unclear how much was frozen as a result of Microsoft's actions. However, the incident has drawn attention to the need for increased vigilance in monitoring cryptocurrency transactions for illegal activities.
The broader market context shows a relatively stable cryptocurrency landscape, with the total market cap at $2.81 trillion. 
Bitcoin experienced a minor 24-hour decline of 0.93%, while the Fear & Greed Index stands at 55, indicating a sentiment of 'Greed' among investors.
Tether (USDT), the stablecoin implicated in the phishing network, maintains a market cap of $183.47 billion, with its price remaining nearly unchanged at $0.998943. This incident may prompt further scrutiny of USDT's role in cybercrime.
Since this brief published about 15 hours ago, Tether (USDT) has moved from $0.9989 to $0.9989 — +0.00%.
The chart plots USDT's price: grey is the move before this brief published, the vertical dashed line marks the moment it published, the horizontal dashed line is the price then, and the coloured area is the move since — from TLT's market data (daily resolution). It shows what happened after the news, not that the news caused it; many factors move prices. Not financial advice.
At today's peer-to-peer rate, 1 USDT ≈ ₦1,361.11 (about $0.9989), down 0.0% over 24 hours. The naira itself trades about 2.3% above the official rate on the P2P market, so a Nigerian buyer's effective cost differs from the headline dollar price.
Live market data
Current prices for the asset in this story — live, source-stamped, updated every 15 minutes.
Figures and sectors in this story, checked live against on-chain aggregators · October 17, 2026.
TLT reads these figures directly from on-chain aggregators (DeFiLlama, mempool.space) at build time — independent of what any outlet reported. Sector totals aggregate every protocol DeFiLlama tracks in that category. Values are live and will change.
Microsoft Disrupts USDT-Funded Phishing Network Targeting 75 — questions & answers
What was the scale of the phishing network?
The network targeted approximately 75,000 organizations.
How was USDT involved in the operation?
USDT was reportedly used for transactions within the phishing network.
What actions did Microsoft take?
Microsoft shut down the YAM Store and associated phishing-kit services.
How much is 1 Tether worth in naira today?
About ₦1,361.11 at the live peer-to-peer (P2P) USDT rate, which is what Nigerians typically trade at — equivalent to roughly $0.9989. The naira price moves with both USDT's US-dollar price and the USDT/NGN rate; use our Tether in naira page for any amount.
Which outlets reported this story?
This is an original TLT brief that synthesises reporting from CryptoSlate. It is not a copy of any one article — follow the source links above for the original reporting.
Original summary — not financial advice. This is an original TLT brief that summarises a development reported elsewhere and adds live market data for context; it is not the original article and reproduces no part of it. Follow the source link above for full details. Crypto is volatile and high-risk — always do your own research.