Crypto Crime Reaches Record High As Nation-State Sanctions Evasion Moves On-Chain At Scale, Report Reveals
Illicit cryptocurrency activities surged to unprecedented levels in 2025, with criminal addresses receiving at least $154 billion—a staggering 162% increase from the previous year. This record-breaking figure, driven largely by a 694% spike in funds flowing to sanctioned entities, underscores the growing intersection of digital assets with global geopolitical tensions.
According to Chainalysis‘s 2026 Crypto Crime Report, even excluding sanctions-related inflows, 2025 marked a new high for crypto crime across various illicit categories.
While the illicit share of total crypto transaction volume remained under 1%, the absolute growth signals evolving threats that demand urgent attention from regulators, law enforcement, and…
