Crypto’s shadow just got a lot bigger.
By Maxime Laurent · 2026-01-29 15:19
Crypto’s shadow just got a lot bigger.
Illicit crypto activity hit a record $158B in 2025, driven mostly by sanctions evasion.
According to TRM Labs, illegal crypto transactions jumped 145% year over year. The real accelerator? Sanctioned jurisdictions and actors. That segment alone exploded 400%+. That’s not noise — that’s a structural shift.
This is the uncomfortable truth of crypto’s neutrality. The same rails that give people financial freedom also work when the world closes doors. Borders tighten, banking freezes — crypto doesn’t ask for passports.
I don’t read this as “crypto is bad.” I read it as proof that crypto works. Too well, sometimes. And every time these numbers spike, regulation tightens, compliance tech improves, and the industry grows another layer of armor.
We’re entering the phase where crypto isn’t judged by ideals, but by consequences. That’s adulthood. Pas très sexy — but necessary.
#crypto #regulation #compliance #macro #blockchain #CryptoFriture
Illicit crypto activity hit a record $158B in 2025, driven mostly by sanctions evasion.
According to TRM Labs, illegal crypto transactions jumped 145% year over year. The real accelerator? Sanctioned jurisdictions and actors. That segment alone exploded 400%+. That’s not noise — that’s a structural shift.
This is the uncomfortable truth of crypto’s neutrality. The same rails that give people financial freedom also work when the world closes doors. Borders tighten, banking freezes — crypto doesn’t ask for passports.
I don’t read this as “crypto is bad.” I read it as proof that crypto works. Too well, sometimes. And every time these numbers spike, regulation tightens, compliance tech improves, and the industry grows another layer of armor.
We’re entering the phase where crypto isn’t judged by ideals, but by consequences. That’s adulthood. Pas très sexy — but necessary.
#crypto #regulation #compliance #macro #blockchain #CryptoFriture
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and not financial advice.