Chainalysis: Crypto Use in Human Trafficking Surged in 2025
Crypto transfers to suspected human trafficking networks rose 85% in 2025, according to blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis, which said the transparency of public ledgers could assist law enforcement in disrupting these operations.
In a report published Thursday, Chainalysis said total transaction volume to suspected trafficking organizations—primarily concentrated in Southeast Asia—amounted to hundreds of millions of dollars across identified services.
The firm noted these services are closely connected to scam compounds, online casinos, and Chinese-language money-laundering networks that have seen increased activity in recent months.
Chainalysis reported that crypto-enabled trafficking activity it reviewed included Telegram-based international escort services, labor placement agents who abduct individuals and coerce them to work in scam compounds, prostitution rings, and vendors of child sexual abuse material.
Payment preferences varied by service, with international escort operations and prostitution networks relying almost entirely on stablecoins.
Blockchain may assist in tracking trafficking activity
Chainalysis said blockchain analysis can help authorities detect and disrupt trafficking by identifying transactional patterns, overseeing compliance, and focusing on chokepoints at exchanges and illicit online marketplaces. The company added that, unlike cash, blockchain’s inherent transparency provides visibility into funds movement, creating opportunities for detection and disruption that are not available with traditional payment methods.
The firm recommended that compliance teams and investigators watch for large, recurring payments to labor placement services, wallet clusters that transact across multiple categories of illicit services, and consistent patterns of stablecoin conversions, among other indicators.
Chainalysis also cited several law enforcement actions in the past year, including a takedown by German authorities of a child sexual exploitation platform, which it said was supported by blockchain analysis.
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