Cryptocurrency payments to suspected human trafficking networks jumped 85% in 2025, according to a new Chainalysis report. Hundreds of millions of dollars in transactions were traced on public blockchains.
Most activity was concentrated in Southeast Asia, where organized networks run escort services, labor scams, and illegal gambling. However, paying customers came from the Americas, Europe, and Australia, showing the global reach of these operations.
Traffickers increasingly use messaging apps like Telegram to recruit victims, advertise services, and coordinate crypto payments. Stablecoins and money laundering groups also help them move and cash out funds quickly.
The report highlighted three main categories: international escort services, labor placement scams, and child sexual abuse material (CSAM) vendors. High-value transactions often exceeded $10,000, while smaller transfers showed signs of agency-level operations.
Labor recruiters lure victims into scams promising high salaries, then force them to conduct online fraud, including romance scams and fake crypto investments.
CSAM networks use subscription-based crypto payments and privacy-focused coins like Monero. Some operations generate hundreds of thousands of dollars and target minors through extortion schemes.
Chainalysis says blockchain transparency gives authorities unprecedented visibility, but crypto-linked trafficking continues to grow despite enforcement efforts.
