Crypto Trafficking Networks Expand Worldwide in 2025: Chainalysis Reports
- Cryptocurrency flows linked to trafficking networks rose sharply worldwide in 2025.
- Stablecoins currently anchor escort and prostitution payment structures globally.
- Subscriptions and cryptocurrency laundering are two ways that CSAM markets grow.
Cryptocurrency transactions tied to suspected human trafficking services surged 85% year over year in 2025, reaching hundreds of millions of dollars, according to a new report from Chainalysis. The firm said the figures reflect only financial activity, while the real harm lies in the lives affected. Investigators linked the spike to Southeast Asia–based scam compounds, online gambling platforms, and Chinese-language money laundering networks operating through Telegram.
Although blockchain records expose financial trails, these networks continue to expand across borders. Chainalysis identified four main categories of suspected cryptocurrency-facilitated trafficking. These include Telegram-based “international escort” services, labor placement agents tied to scam compounds, prostitution networks, and child sexual abuse material vendors.
Each category shows distinct payment and transaction patterns that allow analysts to track operational structures.
Stablecoins Dominate Escort and Prostitution Networks
“International escort” services and prostitution networks rely almost entirely on stablecoins. Chainalysis found that nearly half of transactions on Telegram-based escort services exceed $10,000. Specifically, 48.8% of transfers surpassed that threshold, indicating organized operations with structured pricing.
By contrast, prostitution networks show mid-range payments. About 62% of transactions fall between $1,000 and $10,000, suggesting agency-level coordination rather than isolated actors. These payment tiers create predictable blockchain footprints.
Chainalysis also documented structured business models. One operation is advertised across major East Asian cities with prices from 3,000 RMB for hourly services to 8,000 RMB for extended arrangements, including international transport. Such standardized pricing produces identifiable transaction clusters for compliance teams.
Moreover, these escort services connect closely with Chinese-language money laundering networks and guarantee platforms such as Tudou and Xinbi. These services convert USD stablecoins into local currencies quickly. This rapid conversion may reduce concerns about asset freezes by centralized issuers.
Labor placement agents show similar financial patterns. Recruitment payments usually range from $1,000 to $10,000. These figures align with advertised pricing tiers shared in Telegram channels. Administrators even discuss methods to move detained workers across borders, including during Thailand–Cambodia tensions.
Related: North Korean Crypto Thefts Hit Record $2B in 2025: Chainalysis
Chainalysis linked one recruitment channel administrator to the “Fully Light Group,” a Kokang-based organization previously flagged by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for illegal gambling and money laundering.
CSAM Networks Shift Financial Tactics
Child sexual abuse material vendors show a different pattern. About half of related transactions fall under $100, reflecting low subscription fees. Many services now operate on monthly subscription models rather than pay-per-content systems.
While Bitcoin once dominated these payments, Chainalysis found that users increasingly adopted alternative Layer 1 networks. Operators increasingly turn to Monero for laundering proceeds from their illegal activities. The users depend on instant exchangers, which perform cryptocurrency swaps without requiring know-your-customer verification.
Geographic data revealed heavy use of U.S.-based infrastructure for clear web CSAM sites. IP addresses in South Korea, Spain, and Russia also appeared, though with smaller flows. Analysts said operators may leverage U.S. hosting for scale and reliability.
Chris Hughes, Internet Watch Foundation Hotline Director, said the organization identified 312,030 reports containing child sexual abuse images and videos in 2025, marking a 7% increase from the previous year. He stated, “Any payment information that we identify on commercial websites is captured and shared with global law enforcement and organizations like Chainalysis to disrupt further distribution.”
Global Reach and Monitoring Indicators
Geographic analysis shows that Chinese-language escort services operate across mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia. Transaction flows also originated from Brazil, the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Australia. These cross-border transfers reveal global reach.
Chainalysis outlined several monitoring indicators. The indicators derived from their study include two main components: large recurring payments to labor agents and high-volume activity through guarantee platforms and wallet clusters that connect to multiple illegal operations, stablecoin conversion cycles, and links to Telegram recruitment channels.
The investigators from this study investigate one main question that emerges from the growing use of cryptocurrency. The question they investigate asks whether blockchain technology can provide transparency that outmatches the fast development of trafficking networks.
