Kidflix, a video-streaming-style platform used for distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and accepting cryptocurrency as payment, has been dismantled in a large-scale international operation involving more than 35 countries. The investigation was coordinated by law enforcement in the German federal state of Bavaria and facilitated through Europol.
Between April 2022 and March 2024, the site reportedly had 1.8 million visitors worldwide. According to the investigation, 1,275 individuals either paid in digital assets for abusive content or earned "credits" by uploading their own materials.
Scale and Nature of the Platform
Authorities reported that over 91,000 unique videos were uploaded to the site, totaling more than 6,000 hours of footage. On average, 3.5 new videos were added every hour. Content was offered in low, medium, and high quality, with more severe material fetching higher payments. Europol noted that the majority of the videos had not been previously catalogued in existing CSAM databases.
Kidflix stood out due to its high level of technological sophistication compared to previously dismantled CSAM sites. It operated similarly to mainstream video platforms like Netflix, allowing users to search, sort, and stream content, pay in cryptocurrency, and upgrade accounts for more access. This structure enabled high user engagement and a continuous flow of new uploads.
The Role of Cryptocurrency
Investigators emphasized that digital assets played a critical role in the platform’s operations. Cryptocurrency was the main form of payment for purchasing content and rewarding uploads, offering a layer of anonymity that made tracking users and transactions difficult.
However, through cooperation with international exchanges and blockchain analytics firms, authorities were able to trace financial flows and unmask a portion of the individuals involved.
Investigation Results and Victims
So far, 79 suspects have been arrested and over 3,000 electronic devices seized. Law enforcement rescued 39 children from ongoing abuse. In the United Kingdom, the National Crime Agency identified 63 users of the platform; 30 have already been detained.
Europol Executive Director Catherine De Bolle stated that behind these crimes are real victims. She emphasized that the digital environment has fundamentally changed the nature of child sexual abuse, enabling perpetrators to access victims and share material across borders. She urged society to view such offenses not just as IT-related crimes but as severe personal violations.
Other Illicit Crypto Platforms
In the wake of Kidflix’s shutdown, analysts have renewed their focus on cryptocurrency’s role in the illicit online economy. Earlier, blockchain analytics firm Elliptic identified Huione Guarantee as the world’s largest dark web-style service related to cybercrime. The platform reportedly supported a range of criminal activities—from money laundering and selling stolen data to tools for running large-scale scams. Total transaction volume through Huione Guarantee is estimated at nearly $6 billion, surpassing that of the former dark web market Hydra.
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