Illicit Crypto Transactions Hit $154B In 2025 As Sanctioned States Evade Financial Restrictions
Illicit cryptocurrency transactions reached $154 billion in 2025 as sanctioned governments and entities increasingly used blockchain networks to circumvent international financial restrictions.
What Happened: Sanctions Evasion
Chainalysis documented a 162% surge in illicit crypto activity from $59 billion in 2024.
The blockchain analytics firm attributed the jump to unprecedented volumes of nation-state on-chain behavior, with sanctioned entities moving funds at scale outside traditional financial systems.
Russia emerged as a major contributor after launching the ruble-backed A7A5 token in February 2025.
The state-linked token processed more than $93.3 billion in transactions within its first year, demonstrating how sanctioned actors…
