Crypto-related crimes up 2,000% since 2019, Scottish police say
Police Scotland says serious and organized crime groups are increasingly turning to cryptocurrency, contributing to a 2,000% rise in related cases since 2019.
Police Scotland says it has seen a roughly 2,000% increase in cryptocurrency-related criminality since 2019, as more serious and organised crime groups are “quick to adapt and utilise new methods to help obfuscate their activities.”
While it’s unclear how many cases this figure refers to, authorities suggest crypto is playing a growing role in fraud and organised crime across Scotland. In an annual 2025 report, Police Scotland made it clear it doesn’t yet have a dedicated crypto team, but says “development of capabilities outside of cybercrime is…
