Telegram Cracks Down on Xinbi Groups as Users Migrate to SafeW in 2026
- How Did Xinbi Survive Telegram’s Ban?
- Why Did Competitors Fail Where Xinbi Thrived?
- How Does XinbiPay Evade Tracking?
- What’s Next for Underground Crypto Markets?
- FAQs
In a dramatic shift for underground crypto markets, Xinbi—a notorious platform linked to $8.9 billion in transactions—has pivoted to the messaging app SafeW after Telegram banned its channels in May 2025. Despite the crackdown, Xinbi’s inflows nearly doubled by December 2025, absorbing users from collapsing rivals like Huione and Tudou. TRM Labs data reveals how XinbiPay’s wallet system obscures crypto trails, while the platform peddles everything from stolen data to money laundering services. Here’s the full breakdown.
How Did Xinbi Survive Telegram’s Ban?
When Telegram axed Xinbi’s channels in May 2025, the group didn’t fold—it adapted. Using the same usernames, Xinbi resurrected its operations while quietly pushing users toward SafeW, a lesser-known app with built-in wallet services. By January 2026, traffic had rebounded, with TRM Labs reporting $8.9 billion in inflows. The arrest of Prince Group’s Chen Zhi and Tudou Guarantee’s collapse that same month only accelerated the migration. Xinbi’s Golden Triangle-based operators turned a crisis into an opportunity, leveraging SafeW’s anonymity to keep business booming.
Why Did Competitors Fail Where Xinbi Thrived?
Huione and Haowang, once dominant in Chinese-speaking crypto escrow services, collapsed after Telegram’s purge. Users abandoned them for ChatMe, only to face delays and lost funds. Xinbi, however, played the long game. It maintained Telegram channels while gradually onboarding users to SafeW and XinbiPay (rebranded as NewPay). From May to December 2025, Xinbi’s inflows surged as rivals’ activity dropped 74–100%. The key? A frictionless system: vendors pay security deposits (up to tens of thousands of USDT) for private channels, with admins acting as escrow. When disputes arise, deposits cover losses—a model that’s both efficient and brutally effective.
How Does XinbiPay Evade Tracking?
Unlike individual wallets, XinbiPay’s platform-managed system creates a labyrinth for investigators. TRM Labs notes crypto becomes “a pain to trace” once it enters XinbiPay, requiring analysts to track movement patterns rather than wallet addresses. Since 2022, the platform has processed $16.4 billion, including transactions for fake IDs, deepfake tools, and laundering services. Xinbi even falsely claimed FinCEN and FINTRAC registration, lending it a veneer of legitimacy. As one BTCC analyst put it, “They’ve turned opacity into a business model.”
What’s Next for Underground Crypto Markets?
The cat-and-mouse game continues. With Telegram’s purge, SafeW has become the new haven, but regulators are catching on. Xinbi’s resilience highlights a grim truth: as long as demand exists for anonymous crypto deals, platforms will evolve to fill the void. For now, the Golden Triangle’s shadow economy thrives—one USDT deposit at a time.
This article does not constitute investment advice. Crypto transactions carry significant risks.
FAQs
How much crypto has Xinbi processed?
TRM Labs tracked $16.4 billion in Xinbi transactions since 2022, with $8.9 billion flowing through XinbiPay post-Telegram ban.
Why did users switch to SafeW?
After Telegram’s crackdown and rival platforms’ collapses, SafeW offered continuity with XinbiPay’s integrated wallet system.
Is Xinbi regulated?
No. Despite claims of FinCEN/FINTRAC registration, Xinbi operates outside legal frameworks, per TRM Labs.
