Chinese-Language Networks Processed $16.1B in Illicit Crypto in 2025
Chinese-language money laundering networks handled $16.1 billion in illicit cryptocurrency transactions during 2025, accounting for roughly 20% of global on-chain laundering activity, according to Chainalysis data. These networks now process an average of $44 million daily, leveraging deeper crypto liquidity and avoiding centralized exchanges where funds face freezing risks.
The illicit crypto economy has ballooned from $10 billion in 2020 to over $82 billion in 2025. Fraudulent activities—including pig-butchering schemes, hacking, and scams—are increasingly funneled through 1,799 identified on-chain wallets linked to these operations.