Crypto crime has evolved into a sophisticated industry, with AI-driven scams and stablecoin laundering dominating illicit transactions. The 2025 Chainalysis “Crypto Crime Report” reveals that crypto-related crime exceeded $51 billion in 2024, far higher than initial estimates.

Stablecoins now account for 63% of illicit transactions, replacing Bitcoin due to their speed, liquidity, and regulatory blind spots. Criminals use mixers, cross-chain bridges, and DeFi protocols to obscure transactions. Meanwhile, issuers like Tether have frozen illicit funds, pushing bad actors toward Monero and DeFi-based laundering.

Ransomware payments dropped 35% in 2024, but cybercriminals have adapted by shifting to smaller ransomware-as-a-service groups. Market manipulation also thrives, with $2.57 billion in wash-traded volume inflating token prices to deceive investors.

Chainalysis predicts an ongoing battle between regulators and cybercriminals. AI-powered fraud, deepfake scams, and advanced phishing attacks will become harder to detect, while stablecoin regulations are expected to tighten. The fight against crypto crime is far from over.

Source: Cointelegraph