TechFlow reports on January 8 that according to the latest Chainalysis report, illicit cryptocurrency addresses received $154 billion in funds in 2025, a 162% year-on-year surge, primarily driven by a 694% spike in funds received by sanctioned entities. North Korean hackers stole approximately $2 billion throughout the year, setting a new record high. Russia's ruble-backed A7A5 token facilitated over $93.3 billion in transactions within less than a year, becoming a major tool for large-scale sanctions evasion.
The report指出 that China's money laundering networks have become the dominant force in the on-chain illicit ecosystem, offering various professionalized services such as "money laundering-as-a-service." Meanwhile, due to their convenience for cross-border transfers and low volatility, stablecoins accounted for 84% of total illicit transaction volumes. Although illicit activities still represent less than 1% of overall cryptocurrency transactions, the growing link between cryptocurrencies and violent crime poses severe challenges to ecosystem security.
