The global crypto money-laundering industry saw a staggering surge in 2025, reaching an estimated $82 billion, according to blockchain researchers. This marks a significant jump from the $10 billion recorded in 2020, with Chinese-speaking groups playing a major role in this rapid growth. The rise of Chinese-language money-laundering networks, which emerged during the pandemic, processed nearly $40 million in crypto daily in 2025, as revealed by U.S.-based blockchain research company Chainalysis. These networks have become the fastest-growing category, highlighting the challenges in identifying the individuals behind cryptocurrency wallets. Chainalysis identified nearly 1,800 active wallets used by these networks, processing $16.1 billion in crypto in 2025, and suggests this figure may be an underestimate. Despite China's ban on crypto trading and its lack of recognition of digital tokens as legal tender, the country's top procurator sued 3,032 individuals involved in crypto-related money laundering in 2024. This surge in crypto money laundering has sparked concerns from regulators and authorities worldwide, who have long warned about the industry's role in crime due to its less regulated nature compared to mainstream finance. However, experts emphasize that crypto is just one of many criminal fund-moving methods. To avoid detection, crypto money-laundering networks employ various techniques, including using 'guarantee' platforms that provide escrow services and allow money launderers to advertise their services. Chainalysis warns that these platforms, along with associated financial crime networks, form a complex and resilient ecosystem that adapts despite enforcement efforts. The report highlights the disruptive nature of actions against guarantee services, but the core networks persist and migrate to alternative channels when challenged.
