Chinese Laundering Networks Dominate Crypto Crime with $44M Daily Processing
Chinese-language money laundering networks (CLMNs) have become the primary conduit for global crypto laundering, processing an estimated $16.1 billion in 2025 across 1,799 active wallets. Chainalysis' 2026 Crypto Crime Report reveals these networks now account for 20% of all illicit crypto laundering, shifting away from centralized exchanges toward decentralized, Telegram-based operations.
Growth has been staggering. Since 2020, inflows to CLMNs surged 7,325 times faster than centralized exchanges and 2,190 times faster than intra-illicit on-chain flows. Six service types operate within this ecosystem, including Black U services, which laundered $1 billion in 236 days from hacking campaigns and scams.