Tech giants Apple and Google have removed several cryptocurrency applications linked to the Huione Group, a Cambodia-based company accused of operating the largest dark web marketplace to date.

The Huione Group runs a Telegram-based marketplace that facilitates a range of illicit activities, including the sale of stolen personal data, technology, and money laundering services. It has seen its monthly inflows by 51% over six months, with transactions amounting to $24 billion.

In addition to its illicit operations, the Huione Group also offers various legitimate services, such as a payment app, a cryptocurrency exchange, and a mobile messaging platform. However, it remains unclear whether these services have been directly involved in fraudulent activities. The company’s portfolio extends to products ranging from insurance to luxury travel.

Elliptic CEO Tom Robinson commented on the situation, stating, “I think Google and Apple should consider whether Huione Group is an appropriate business to be distributing apps through their platforms.” Following these concerns, Google removed all of Huione’s apps, while Apple took down the crypto exchange. However, other Huione Group apps remain available on the App Store.

According to Elliptic's latest findings, the number of users on the platform has risen to over 900,000. Elliptic said that with such a huge following, Huione Guarantee is undoubtedly one of the biggest online illicit marketplace to have ever operated.

Huione has recently rolled out a suite of crypto-focused products, including a 1:1 U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin (USDH), a proprietary blockchain, a decentralized exchange, and a messaging app. While these applications remain available on Apple’s App Store, they have been removed from Google’s Play Store.

The launch of the USDH stablecoin has been a key driver of Huione’s growth. The token was introduced following Tether’s decision to freeze one of Huione Pay’s USDT accounts in July, citing alleged ties to the North Korean-linked Lazarus Group.

USDH is supported on multiple blockchains, including Ethereum (ETH), BNB Chain (BNB), Tron (TRX), and Huione’s own blockchain, Huione Chain. However, the token has caused confusion with another stablecoin also named USDH, issued by Solana-based DeFi protocol Hubble.

Huione Chain hosts a decentralized exchange (DEX) that enables users to swap USDH for other cryptocurrencies. Additionally, the organization has launched its own messaging app to reduce reliance on third-party platforms like Telegram.

The new chat application comes in the wake of Telegram founder Pavel Durov’s arrest in France in August 2024. Following his release, Durov committed to improving moderation on Telegram, which has been a hub for Huione’s marketplace operations.

A Rebranding Effort Amid Rising Scrutiny

In response to growing criticism, Huione rebranded its platform from Huione Guarantee to Haowang Guarantee. Research by blockchain analytics firm Elliptic exposed the platform as a hub for thousands of vendors offering services such as money laundering, stolen data, and tools for industrial-scale online fraud.

Elliptic’s findings described the platform as “a key enabler of cyber scam operations in Southeast Asia.” The firm noted, “Perhaps no other single entity bears as much responsibility as Huione Guarantee for the global cyber scam epidemic, which has devastated countless lives.”