Chinese Laundering Networks Now Dominate Crypto Crime, Processing $44M Daily as Enforcement Struggles to Keep Pace
Chinese-language money laundering networks (CLMNs) have emerged as the dominant infrastructure for global crypto laundering, processing an estimated $16.1 billion in 2025 across more than 1,799 active wallets, according to new data released in Chainalysis’ 2026 Crypto Crime Report.
The blockchain intelligence firm’s analysis reveals these networks now handle approximately 20% of all known illicit crypto laundering activity globally, marking a fundamental shift away from traditional centralized exchanges toward decentralized, Telegram-based operations that have proven resilient to enforcement actions.
The growth has been explosive. Since 2020, inflows to identified Chinese-language money laundering networks grew 7,325 times faster…
