Crypto crime has entered a professionalized era dominated by AI-driven scams, stablecoin laundering and efficient cyber syndicates, the 2025 “Crypto Crime Report” by Chainalysis reveals, with the past year witnessing a staggering $51 billion in illicit transaction volume — shattering previous records and assumptions.
Initial estimates suggested a decline in crypto crime for 2024. Deeper analysis now suggests otherwise: Criminals have adopted advanced money laundering techniques, hinging on stablecoins, decentralized finance (DeFi) and AI-powered deception, which created the illusion of decreased crime.
Gone are the days of lone hackers and shady darknet markets. The report paints a grim picture of hyper-professionalized cybercrime networks, where fraud cartels, nation-state hackers and AI-powered scams dominate the landscape.
Ransomware payments dropped 35% year-over-year (YoY), yet the battle is far from won. Cybercriminals are abandoning Bitcoin (BTC) in favor of stablecoins, Monero (XMR) and DeFi exploits.
Total cryptocurrency value received by illicit addresses 2020–2024. Source: Chainalysis
Stablecoins are the new kingpin of illicit crypto activity
Bitcoin was the currency of choice for cybercriminals for years, but this changed in 2022. The 2025 Chainalysis report shows a seismic shift to stablecoins that now account for 63% of all illicit crypto transactions.
Criminals are abandoning Bitcoin in favor of stablecoins because they offer speed, liquidity and regulatory blind spots that make illicit transactions easier to execute and harder to trace. Unlike Bitcoin, which can experience longer confirmation times, stablecoins provide near-instantaneous transactions and US dollar-pegged stability.
This makes stablecoins ideal for laundering large sums of money without worrying about price fluctuations and makes tracking transactions harder due to faster shifts through mixers, crosschain bridges and DeFi protocols to obscure transaction origins and evade detection. This pivot shows a growing preference for more efficient financial tools in the evolving landscape of crypto crime.
Stablecoins have overtaken BTC for illicit activity for the third year. Source: Chainalysis
Yet stablecoin issuers are fighting back. Tether, for instance, has frozen hundreds of addresses tied to illicit activity, forcing criminals to seek alternatives. Some have turned to Monero, privacy wallets and DeFi-based laundering schemes.
Ransomware payments drop 35%, but cybercrime adapts
At first glance, ransomware attacks appear to have declined. In 2024, payments declined by 35%, suggesting that victims and regulators are finally gaining the upper hand. However, this number masks a deeper transformation.
Rather than disappearing, ransomware groups have rebranded, diversified and adapted. Following the takedown of LockBit, smaller ransomware-as-a-service groups like RansomHub have absorbed displaced operators, demonstrating how cybercriminal networks swiftly adapt to enforcement actions.
Another sector of crypto crime continues to thrive in plain sight through simple market manipulation. Decentralized exchanges (DEXs) remain fertile ground for wash trading, where fraudsters orchestrate schemes that inflate trading volumes and deceive investors. The crypto firm CLS Global just pleaded guilty to wash-trading a token made by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for a cyber sting operation.
Related: In pictures: Bybit’s record-breaking $1.4B hack
The crypto market remains plagued by wash trading, fake volume and pump-and-dump schemes. The 2025 Chainalysis report estimates that $2.57 billion in illicit trading volume was artificially generated in 2024.
These methods rely on creating an illusion of demand, often through automated trading bots that rapidly buy and sell tokens to inflate prices artificially. This fabricated activity tricks new investors into believing a project has real momentum. A fast-growing green candle and seemingly organic volume draw in new investors with the promise of quick gains.
Once enough unsuspecting buyers enter the market, insiders dump their holdings, crashing the price and leaving retail investors holding worthless tokens. This cycle, known as the classic “pump-and-dump,” continues to plague DEXs, undermining trust in crypto markets.
In 2024, 3.59% of all new tokens minted displayed classic rug-pull behavior.
Looking ahead at cat-and-mouse crypto crime
Chainalysis’s 135-page report also covers the rise of laundering-as-a-service platforms, the decline of darknet market revenues, and the growing role of AI in crypto scams. It examines how North Korean hackers stole a record $1.34 billion, the fall of major ransomware groups like LockBit and the SEC’s crackdown on $2.57 billion in market manipulation schemes. The report shows the evolution of crime and the escalating global response with detailed case studies and forensic insights.
There is a cat-and-mouse game with regulators and criminals locked in an escalating arms race. Stablecoin regulations are expected to tighten as governments respond to their growing role in money laundering.
At the same time, AI-powered fraud will expand exponentially, with deepfake scams, synthetic identities and automated phishing attacks becoming harder to detect. Ransomware tactics will continue to evolve, shifting focus from ransom payments to data theft and extortion.
Cybercriminals will find new ways to pressure victims, and as law enforcement steps up its efforts, the battle between regulators and illicit actors will only intensify, shaping the future of crypto’s role in global finance.
Magazine: Elon Musk’s plan to run government on blockchain faces uphill battle
Kemi Badenoch has said the Tories are “not doing a deal with Reform” after a Conservative mayor appeared to advocate for a “coming together” of the two rival parties. The leader of the opposition criticised talk of “stitch ups” ahead of next week’s local elections and said she was instead focused on ensuring that voters have a “credible Conservative offer”. Speaking to reporters from Stratford-upon-Avon, she said: “We are not doing a deal with Reform. There’s not going to be a pact. “What we need to do right now is focus on ensuring that voters have a credible Conservative offer. “When we start talking about stitch ups before an election it sounds as if we are not thinking about the people out there but just about how we win. “Winning is just the first step – we need to talk about how we are going to deliver for the people of this country.” Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player PM questions Badenoch on Jenrick audio at PMQs Her words come after Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen suggested his party may have to join forces with Nigel Farage’s Reform UK. In an interview with Politico, he said: “I don’t know what it looks like. I don’t know whether it’s a pact. I don’t know whether it’s a merger … [or] a pact of trust and confidence or whatever. “But if we want to make sure that there is a sensible centre-right party leading this country, then there is going to have to be a coming together of Reform and the Conservative Party in some way.” He added: “What that looks like is slightly above my pay grade at the moment.” The intervention from the Conservatives’ last remaining mayor will create further trouble for Ms Badenoch after shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick vowed to “bring this coalition together” to ensure that Conservatives and Reform UK are no longer competing for votes by the time of the next election. According to a leaked recording obtained by Sky News, Mr Jenrick – who lost the Tory leadership campaign to Ms Badenoch – said he would try “one way or another” to make sure the two right-wing parties do not end up handing a second term to Sir Keir Starmer. Mr Jenrick has denied his words amounted to calling for a pact with Reform – and told Good Morning Britain: “I’ve said time and again that I want to put Reform out of business … I want to send Nigel Farage back to retirement.” Read more: Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Farage: Jenrick ‘shaping up’ to be Tory leader Questioned about Mr Jenrick’s remarks, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage told Sky News he was not going to do a deal with the Conservative Party. He said: “I mean he’s clearly shaping himself up to be the next leader of the Conservative Party. He doesn’t care what internal division he causes within the Parliamentary Party. “But he’s actually mistaken. We are not going to do a deal with a Conservative Party that gave us record tax levels since the war, mass migration, I mean I could go on.” Opinion by: Daniel Ahmed, co-founder of Fasset and founding member of the Own Foundation Crypto was born from a vision to decentralize power, democratize finance and build systems where equity prevails over exploitation. Somewhere along the way, however, the movement lost its moral compass. As speculation surged, purpose dwindled. We must return crypto to its decentralized roots, a technological revolution built on long-term value, inclusivity and ethics rather than cyclical, speculative gains. The industry should take inspiration from emerging regions and how ethical financial investing can help to repair some of the ways our industry has often fallen short. When Vitalik wrote a blog post on layer 2s as a cultural extension of Ethereum, he brought up a critical point not only in business and technology but humanity — what we build in this life should be more significant than ourselves. Citing blockchains, he described how layer 2s, which he framed as subcultures of Ethereum, don’t merely differ in their technical benefits but how their positioning and intricacies trickle down into the culture of their communities. In a space where new layer 2s are emerging rapidly, Vitalik’s insights are accurate and inspiring. When we build in a vacuum of echo chambers and monocultures, we miss out on the actual value of community in Web3. What really brings communities together? Too often in crypto, that answer has been making people rich. What it should be is shared ideals that solve real issues. If done with purpose and conviction, this can still make people money. While the rapid rise of layer 2 and layer 3 solutions promises scalability and efficiency, they are too often motivated by speculative gains rather than lasting value creation. If there’s any doubt, the numbers speak for themselves. Layer-2 fatigue aside, the sheer scope of this data raises the question: Is our industry innovating just because it can, or is it creating a real-world utility that improves the lives of fellow humans? There’s nothing wrong with building something to make money, but if that’s the only reason we’re building something, that’s a problem. Recent: Islamic finance and Web3 take stage at Istanbul Blockchain Week We need to shift the narrative and look at how Web3 is solving actual, fundamental issues in emerging markets — particularly in regions like the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Africa — as a north star for how to ethically build the future of our space. If crypto projects think innovation in Web3 is only about VC-led fundraising rounds, comparing transactions per second, or building the next great decentralized application to trade cat coins, they have probably never existed in a place where even the simplest of financial transactions is cumbersome. In emerging markets, where people grapple with inflation, high remittance fees and limited access to financial services, we’ve witnessed how meaningful effects can transform the daily lives of millions. These are not abstract issues. They affect business owners, families, students, creators and more. From stablecoins to secure and user-friendly payment applications, Web3 offers a unique opportunity to address these problems by creating decentralized financial systems that bypass the inefficiencies and inequities of traditional banking. For Web3 to truly make a difference in these regions, it must be designed with a focus on ethics, accessibility and long-term utility. We must lead by example. In these markets, if innovation doesn’t create a meaningful disruption that improves people’s lives and addresses real-world problems, it’s nothing more than a buzzword. The most powerful solutions in technology are those that solve the world’s greatest problems. If you want inspiration, pay attention to those doing something different. If you want to inspire others, lead by example. Ethical finance, particularly Islamic finance, offers valuable lessons for Web3. Dating back to the 1960s and 70s in the Middle East and North Africa (and even further to around 620 AD), this sector is built on risk-sharing, ethical investment and a focus on tangible assets. Islamic finance has endured for centuries because it rejects speculation in favor of real, meaningful value. For example, we’ve seen the rise of ethical finance institutions like Al Rajhi Bank, one of the most prominent Islamic banks globally, known for its investments in tangible assets and community-oriented financial products. This model, which strives to build based on morals, substance and necessity versus mere financial opportunity, can guide Web3 as it moves beyond hype-driven growth. As we look toward the next few years with the wind and a bull market beneath our wings, the time has come for Web3 to take a hard look in the mirror and redefine what success and innovation genuinely look like. The answer to this won’t be the same for everyone — that would be pretty boring if it were. We must find a common ground of shared values that extends beyond technical achievements, market capitalization, total value locked or X followers but strives to innovate something more significant than any layer 2 or token. When gearing up to launch something new, our industry must ask itself something that lives at the heart of Islamic finance: How will this product improve people’s lives? Is it true to the ethos of creating decentralized systems that are transparent, fair and built for the benefit of all? If we can’t answer that, perhaps we should step back and ask why. Then, get back to work. Opinion by: Daniel Ahmed, co-founder of Fasset and founding member of the Own Foundation. This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal or investment advice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed here are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.
An official of the Swiss National Bank dismissed calls for the institution to add Bitcoin to its reserves as a hedge against the ongoing macroeconomic turmoil. According to an April 25 Reuters report, Swiss National Bank Chairman Martin Schlegel said that “cryptocurrency cannot currently fulfil the requirements for our currency reserves” during a shareholder meeting in Bern earlier today. The comments come amid mounting pressure from the local crypto industry to add Bitcoin (BTC) to the central bank’s reserves. Campaigner Luzius Meisser, a board member of cryptocurrency broker Bitcoin Suisse, told Reuters that “holding bitcoin makes more sense as the world shifts towards a multipolar order.” He claimed that the need is even more dire now that “the dollar and the euro are weakening.” This is not the first time Schlegel has pushed back against the idea. Reports from early March quoted Schlegel saying that he doesn’t want to make Bitcoin a reserve asset in Switzerland, citing a lack of stability, liquidity concerns and security risks. Related: Swiss canton of Bern votes to study Bitcoin mining feasibility On the last day of 2024, the Swiss Federal Chancellery initiated a proposal to constitutionally mandate the Swiss National Bank to hold Bitcoin on its balance sheet. The proposal needs to gather 100,000 signatures to trigger a referendum in Switzerland. The initiative requests to change the third paragraph of Article 99 of the constitution. The relevant text currently states: “The Swiss National Bank shall create sufficient currency reserves from its revenues; part of these reserves shall be held in gold.” If successful, the campaign would result in adding “and in Bitcoin.” to the end of the paragraph. The initiative saw the participation of the Swiss Bitcoin nonprofit think tank 2B4CH, which was responsible for preparing and submitting the documents. 2B4CH had some ties to industry heavyweights, with Giw Zanganeh, vice president of energy and mining at leading stablecoin issuer Tether, helping launch the campaign. Related: Crypto bank Sygnum hits unicorn status with new $58M raise Meisser claims that holding Bitcoin would free the central bank from the political influence of its foreign currency holdings, most of which are in US dollars and euros. According to him, “politicians eventually give in to the temptation of printing money to fund their plans, but bitcoin is a currency that cannot be inflated through deficit spending.” 2B4CH founder and chairman Yves Bennaïm told Reuters: “We are not saying — go all in with bitcoin, but if you have nearly 1 trillion francs in reserves, like the SNB does, then it makes sense to have 1–2% of that in an asset that is increasing in value, becoming more secure, and that everyone wants to own.” Switzerland is a hub for blockchain enterprises, with its “Crypto Valley” in the town of Zug being the location where Ethereum was founded. The nation continues to generate crypto initiatives, with global grocery giant Spar rolling out Bitcoin-based payments in a Swiss city earlier this month. The crypto Valley surpassed the $593 billion valuation mark, showcasing the growth trajectory of the region’s blockchain industry in 2024. Last year, the area saw the emergence of 17 crypto startup unicorns. Magazine: Crypto Valley and the Crypto Oasis: Ralf Glabischnig
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The rise of layer 2
What does innovation indeed mean?
Ethical finance — Web3’s future?
Build by example
Switzerland’s campaign for a Bitcoin reserve
The campaign is still ongoing
