In 2025, analysts at Chainalysis recorded a significant increase in the use of cryptocurrencies in human trafficking schemes. According to the company’s estimates, the flow of digital assets to suspicious networks rose by 85% compared to the previous year, with the total transaction amount reaching hundreds of millions of dollars. The majority of such operations are concentrated in Southeast Asian countries.
This is reported by Business • Media
Main Tools and Trends in Cryptocurrency Use
- A significant portion of transactions is conducted through stablecoins and Telegram services, which facilitate fast and anonymous payments.
- Blockchain technologies provide law enforcement with new opportunities to identify suspicious schemes.
Researchers have found that cryptocurrency flows often pass through fraudulent platforms, online casinos, and Chinese money laundering networks. Additionally, cryptocurrencies are actively used in Telegram channels that advertise international escort services and in structures related to forced labor and sexual exploitation.
The report shows that international escort services and prostitution networks have almost entirely transitioned to using stablecoins, as they allow for cross-border payments with minimal fees. Such transactions are harder to trace due to their speed and anonymity.
Blockchain as a Tool for Combating Crime
Despite the risks, blockchain technology helps law enforcement detect human trafficking schemes due to the transparency of digital transactions. Chainalysis analysts note that the public nature of blockchain allows for tracking repeated payments, analyzing wallet clusters, and examining stablecoin conversion schemes, which aids in identifying key points in the infrastructure of criminal networks and their interactions with cryptocurrency exchanges.
“Unlike cash, blockchain transactions leave a digital trail. This creates a foundation for investigations and collaboration with regulators, including monitoring large regular transfers and suspicious services.”
Thanks to this approach, in 2025, law enforcement achieved significant results. In particular, German authorities successfully shut down a child sexual exploitation platform by using blockchain data analysis to track cryptocurrency movements.
Previously, Chainalysis analysts reported that in 2025, cryptocurrency fraudsters stole a record $17 billion, highlighting the scale of the problem and the need for increased oversight of digital assets.
