European authorities shut down Matrix, an encrypted messaging app designed and used primarily by criminals, Europol announced. The service, accessible by invitation only, operated across 40 servers in multiple countries.
Dutch police discovered Matrix on the phone of a criminal responsible for murdering a journalist in 2021. Europol described Matrix as a platform “made by criminals for criminals,” charging between €1,300 and €1,600 for six-month subscriptions. The app provided features like video calls, transaction tracking, and anonymous internet access.
Matrix Linked to Serious Crimes
Authorities monitored Matrix for three months, intercepting over 2.3 million messages in 33 languages. Europol linked these communications to major crimes, including drug trafficking, arms trafficking, and money laundering.
The joint operation involved law enforcement from the Netherlands, France, Lithuania, Italy, and Spain. It resulted in the seizure of €145,000 in cash and half a million euros in cryptocurrencies. Arrests occurred in France and Spain, while searches were conducted in Lithuania. Authorities also dismantled Matrix’s main servers located in France and Germany.
Matrix follows the fate of other encrypted platforms like EncroChat, Exclu, and Ghost, which authorities dismantled in recent years. Europol warned that criminals increasingly rely on smaller providers with advanced encryption. Dutch police emphasized that “serious criminals wrongly believe they can still operate in secret.”