Reuters — Groups linked to Russia and Iran are increasingly using cryptocurrency to finance the purchase of low-cost military drones and components, according to a new report from blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis.

Commercially available drones have become central to conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East, but because low-cost drones are widely available on global e-commerce platforms, it is often challenging for authorities to track who is behind the purchases and what their intent with the products might be.

While most drone purchases are made using traditional financial rails, procurement networks are increasingly intersecting with the blockchain, the public digital ledger on which cryptocurrencies are based, Chainalysis…