Stablecoins and Laundering Networks Redefine Illicit Activity

[mendez]

One of the most striking shifts in the data is criminals’ overwhelming move to stablecoins. While Bitcoin once dominated illicit crypto use, stablecoins accounted for 84% of illegal transaction volume in 2025, thanks to their low volatility, speed, and ease of cross-border transfer.

The report also highlights the rise of Chinese Money Laundering Networks offering “laundering-as-a-service,” supporting everything from fraud and scam operations to sanctions evasion and terrorist financing. Although illicit activity still represents less than 1% of total crypto volume, Chainalysis warns that the growing intersection of crypto crime, geopolitics, and even physical violence raises the stakes for regulators, law enforcement, and the crypto industry worldwide.

[AIcash]

less than 1% but still $154b is a crazy sentence to read