Chainalysis Reports Illicit Crypto Volume Soared to $154 Billion in 2025

On 6 March 2026, Chainalysis reported that illicit crypto transaction volume climbed to at least $154 billion in 2025, a 162% rise from the revised 2024 level of $57.2 billion. Sanctions evasion drove most of this increase, with about $104 billion flowing to sanctioned entities and stablecoins accounting for 84% of illegal activity. The report also highlighted a $2 billion haul by DPRK-linked hackers, including a $1.5 billion Bybit breach, and warned that faster fund movements and growing use of AI scams are compressing law-enforcement response times.