In 2025, illicit cryptocurrency volumes sent by Russia, Iran, and North Korea reached a record $154 billion, as reported by Chainalysis. The surge represents a 690% increase from the previous year, primarily driven by sanctioned entities leveraging crypto to bypass severe sanctions imposed by the US and the EU, particularly the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Iran. These entities are increasingly intertwined with legitimate crypto use, complicating enforcement for authorities who now face challenges identifying when large-scale adoption crosses into sanctions violations or national security risks.
Chainalysis reports illicit crypto volumes hit record $154B in 2025
