US EditionSanctions Drive Illicit Crypto Activity to Record Highs in 2025
Illicit crypto flows reached $154 billion in 2025, a 162% increase driven by sanctioned entities using stablecoins for sanctions evasion, Chainalysis reported.
- On Thursday, Chainalysis released its 2026 Crypto Crime Report showing illicit crypto addresses received at least $154 billion in 2025, a 162% increase from 2024.
- Sanctions expansion pushed sanctioned entities and blacklisted governments to seek alternatives as nearly 80,000 entities faced sanctions globally and the United States added 3,135 names in 2024.
- Stablecoins comprised 84% of illicit transaction volume in 2025, while Russia's A7A5, ruble-backed token launched in February 2025, processed more than $93.3 billion in under a year.
- Despite the surge, Chainalysis noted identifiable illicit dealings remained under 1% of total on-chain activity in 2025, while lawmakers may reconsider stablecoin issuers and centralized token models after the GENIUS Act formalized oversight last year.
- Looking at technical drivers, PeckShield documented private-key leaks and address-poisoning scams tied to nation-state hackers, indicating persistent risks.
20 Articles
20 Articles
Illegal transactions linked to cryptoactives recorded an unprecedented leap in 2025. Addresses associated with illegal activities received at least $154 billion, which meant an annual increase of 162%, according to a report by Chainalysis, a firm specializing in blockchain analysis and transaction tracking with cryptocurrencies.In the introductory chapter to our 2026 Crypto Crime Report, we reveal that illicit cryptocurrency transactions receive…
The increase in global sanctions and the increased involvement of States led illicit cryptocurrency activity to record levels in 2025. The data indicate that sanctioned entities were the main source of these flows, although illegal use represents only a small part of the total crypto transactions. Analysts describe this change as a response to growing geopolitical pressure rather than a failure of compliance. The article The sanctions and action…
Crypto News: Illegal Flows Surge to $154B as Geopolitical Threats Rise
Key Insights Illicit flows reached $154 billion in 2025, up 162%. North Korea stole $2 billion with the Bybit hack, totaling $1.5 billion. Russia’s A7A5 token processed $93.3 billion in under one year. Crypto news from Chainalysis revealed illicit cryptocurrency addresses received at least $154 billion in 2025. This was a 162% increase year-over-year. The surge was driven by a 694% increase in value received by sanctioned entities. Nation-state…
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