Chinese-Language Networks Drive Surge in Crypto Money Laundering
- Crypto-based money laundering increased from $10 billion in 2020 to over $82 billion by 2025.
- Chinese-language money laundering networks (CMLNs) accounted for about 20% of illicit crypto laundering activity in 2025.
- Inflows to CMLNs grew exponentially, increasing over 7,325 times faster than those to centralized exchanges since 2020.
- In a single year, CMLNs processed $16.1 billion in illicit inflows with more than 1,799 active on-chain wallets identified by Chainalysis.
The rapid rise of Chinese-language money laundering networks poses a significant threat to the digital asset ecosystem, as highlighted by the sharp increase in crypto-based money laundering activities reaching $82 billion by mid-decade. These networks have developed sophisticated systems that operate across multiple platforms and rely heavily on cryptocurrencies for cross-border transactions.
Chainalysis’s findings underscore the critical need for enhanced monitoring and regulatory measures to address the growing influence of these networks within global crypto crime landscapes. (Source)
