The Guidance
- Chainalysis reported a surge in crypto volume tied to human trafficking.
- This rise has occurred in tandem with the spread of scam compounds in parts of Asia.
- Cracking down on illicit activity has been a challenge.
A version of this story appeared in The Guidance newsletter on February 16. Sign up here.
Crypto transactions tied to alleged human trafficking surged by 85% in 2025, according to a February report by crypto compliance firm Chainalysis.
The firm identified hundreds of millions of dollars in volumes linked to illicit escort services, prostitution networks, and child sexual abuse material vendors.
“The dollar amounts significantly understate the human toll of these crimes, where the true cost is measured in lives…
