The United Nations has sounded the alarm on a new phase of global organized crime, where crypto mines hum in militia-run factories, stablecoins help wash billions, and Telegram hosts black markets.
A new report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reveals that transnational criminal groups from East and Southeast Asia are rapidly expanding their operations worldwide, using illegal crypto mining as a “powerful tool” to launder billions in illicit proceeds.
The report titled “Inflection Point: Global Implications of Scam Centres, Underground Banking and Illicit Online Marketplaces in Southeast Asia,” documents how these syndicates are embedding themselves in regions with weak oversight, from Zambia and Nigeria…
Apr 21 2025
