Crypto Money Laundering Soars, Driven by Chinese Networks
Money laundering involving cryptocurrencies reached at least $82 billion last year, a sharp increase from $10 billion in 2020, according to blockchain research firm Chainalysis. This surge is partly attributed to the rapid growth of Chinese-speaking money-laundering networks. Chainalysis provides data, software, services, and research to government agencies, exchanges, financial institutions, and insurance and cybersecurity companies. They focus on cryptocurrency investigation and compliance solutions.
The fastest-growing segment within this illicit activity involves Chinese-language networks, which emerged during the pandemic. These networks processed approximately $40 million worth of cryptocurrency daily in 2025,…
