Crypto transfers to suspected human trafficking networks climbed 85% in 2025, though blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis said the transparency of blockchain technology could also aid efforts to disrupt such operations.
In a report released Thursday, Chainalysis said total transaction volumes linked to suspected trafficking networks — primarily operating in Southeast Asia — reached “hundreds of millions of dollars across identified services.”
The firm noted that these networks are often “closely aligned” with scam compounds, online gambling platforms, and Chinese-language money-laundering operations, all of which have seen rapid expansion in recent years.
According to Chainalysis, the crypto-enabled trafficking activity it identified included Telegram-based international escort services, labor recruiters who abduct individuals and force them to work in scam compounds, prostitution rings, and vendors distributing child sexual abuse material.
Payment methods varied widely across operations, though international escort services and prostitution networks were found to rely almost exclusively on stablecoins for transactions.
Blockchain may aid efforts to track traffickers
Chainalysis said blockchain technology can help law enforcement agencies identify and dismantle human trafficking networks by analyzing transaction patterns, strengthening compliance monitoring, and targeting key chokepoints such as cryptocurrency exchanges and illicit online marketplaces.
“Unlike cash transactions that leave no trace, the transparency of blockchain technology provides unprecedented visibility into these operations, creating unique opportunities for detection and disruption that would be impossible with traditional payment methods,” the company said.
Chainalysis advised compliance teams and investigators to watch for indicators such as large, recurring payments to labor placement services, wallet clusters linked to multiple categories of illicit activity, and consistent patterns of stablecoin conversions.
The firm also noted that authorities achieved several enforcement successes last year, including action by officials in Germany to dismantle a child sexual exploitation platform — an effort it said was supported by blockchain analysis.
