Chainalysis Flags $82 Billion In Crypto Routed To Money Laundering Networks By 2025

Blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis reports that on‑chain crypto money laundering ballooned from an estimated $10 billion in 2020 to over $82 billion by 2025, with Chinese‑language money laundering networks (CMLNs) emerging as a major driver of this surge. The report finds CMLNs handled about 20% of identified illicit on‑chain laundering in 2025 and processed $16.1 billion in criminal inflows, while their growth rate far outpaced centralized exchanges, DeFi services, and other criminal channels. Chainalysis also notes that these networks increasingly use Telegram‑based services and cryptocurrencies to move funds across borders for organized crime groups.