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Crypto Money-Laundering Hit $82 Billion in 2025, Researchers Say
- On January 27, 2026, Chainalysis reported more than $82 billion will flow through on-chain money laundering by 2025, consolidating into a small number of highly effective networks.
- Since 2020, illicit inflows tied to these networks grew 7,325 times faster than to centralized exchanges, with Chainalysis attributing this surge to rising crypto liquidity and professional laundering on messaging platforms.
- On messaging platforms, specialized services include runtime brokers, money mules, informal OTC trading desks, and 'Black U' services, while a Telegram-based `guaranteed platform` serves as an escrow hub, with Chainalysis identifying 1,800 active wallets in 2025.
- China's authorities sued 3,032 people tied to crypto money laundering in 2024, but the report warns law enforcement and regulators worldwide face persistent vendors and core laundering networks that quickly migrate when disrupted.
- Chinese-Language money-laundering networks now account for 20% of laundering and processed almost $40 million daily in 2025, with ties to off-chain criminal organizations raising enforcement challenges.
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Crypto money-laundering hit $82 billion in 2025, researchers say
By Elizabeth Howcroft Jan 27 (Reuters) – Money launderers received at least $82 billion in cryptocurrencies last year, up sharply from $10 billion in 2020, driven in part by fast growth among Chinese-speaking groups, blockchain researchers said on Tuesday. The fastest-growing category has been Chinese-language money-laundering networks, which emerged during the pandemic and processed almost $40 million worth of crypto per day in 2025, U.S.-base…
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Total News Sources24
Leaning Left2Leaning Right1Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution57% Center
Bias Distribution
- 57% of the sources are Center
57% Center
L 29%
C 57%
14%
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