According to the analytical company Chainalysis, the volume of funds laundered through cryptocurrencies exceeded $82 billion in 2025, which is eight times more compared to 2020. This sharp increase is attributed to the development of professional shadow services, particularly those operating primarily in Chinese.
This is reported by Finway
Chinese Networks and New Money Laundering Schemes
The Chainalysis report highlights that a key portion of illegal financial flows is attributed to networks that actively operate in Chinese. These networks account for approximately 20% of all detected activity related to money laundering in cryptocurrencies, according to experts. Notably, the volume of laundered funds in these channels is growing significantly faster than in centralized exchanges and DeFi protocols.
“The volume of funds that passed through blockchain money laundering channels increased from approximately $10 billion in 2020 to over $82 billion in 2025.”
Throughout 2025, criminals processed at least $16.1 billion specifically through such networks. The laundered funds were distributed among approximately 1,800 active wallets, as well as various services: primary access brokers, over-the-counter platforms, courier networks, and other illegal platforms.
Globalization and Evolution of the Shadow Industry
Within the structure of the shadow market, guarantee platforms based on messengers stand out. They provide fund deposit services and a reputation system for participants, allowing operators to quickly change platforms in case of blocking to ensure operational continuity. Analysts emphasize that the scale and resilience of such networks indicate their close interaction with off-chain crime, particularly fraud and cybercrime.
Despite sanctions and stricter controls, experts point out that money laundering involving digital assets has transformed into a resilient global service industry. The report notes that even the blocking of individual channels does not stop the activities of shadow operators.
Previously, Chainalysis reported that in 2025, cryptocurrency scammers stole a record $17 billion, reflecting the rapid growth in the scale and complexity of criminal schemes. It is additionally noted that approximately 80% of crypto projects that suffered hacking attacks do not fully resume their operations.