1、 The 2026 Crypto Crime Report The rising role of cryptocurrency in all forms of crime and how its transparency is creating unique opportunities for investigation 1 Table of Contents Preface 1 Introduction 2 Money Laundering 7 Scams 23 Human Trafficking 39 Drugs&Darknet Markets 49 Ransomware 60 Sanct
2、ions&Terrorist Financing 73 Stolen Funds 86 Preface Why We Publish This Research:Facts,Not Fear,About Crypto Crime In 2026,financial institutions can no longer ignore crypto the growth of stablecoins alone demonstrates the demand for 24/7,instantaneous,cross-border,cheap,and easy value transfer.But
3、the defining feature of this financial era is not simply growth it is transparency.Public blockchains represent the first global financial infrastructure where transactions are recorded on an immutable,time-stamped ledger visible to anyone willing to look.That permanence and openness fundamentally r
4、eshape how markets can be understood.For financial institutions,this is not a marginal improvement over legacy rails;it is a structural paradigm shift.The ability to trace value flows across borders in near real time,to analyze counterparties with precision,and to observe systemic patterns at scale
5、is something that has never been possible in conventional finance,where data is fragmented across institutions,jurisdictions,and proprietary systems.Blockchain technology,by design,creates a single source of truth.Our purpose in publishing this report is not to sensationalize illicit activity or amp
6、lify fear.Quite the opposite.The blockchains transparency empowers us to measure risk with clarity rather than conjecture.Where traditional financial crime often remains obscured behind opaque banking relationships and siloed reporting regimes,on-chain activity leaves immutable evidence.That visibil