According to Elliptic, cross-chain crimes in the cryptocurrency world rose to $21.8 billion in 2025, raising questions about security and regulation in the blockchain sector.
Increase in Cross-Chain Crimes
Arda Akartuna, APAC Lead at Elliptic, reported a surge in cross-chain crimes to $21.8 billion in 2025, nearly tripling from 2023 figures. Major hacks like Bybit highlight criminals' use of decentralized platforms to obscure and move funds.
Security Challenges
The increase in cross-chain crypto crimes signals rising challenges for blockchain security. Criminals' ability to obscure funds through decentralized platforms complicates recovery efforts and impacts financial stability.
Need for Improved Regulation
Elliptic emphasizes the critical need for improved compliance and tracing tools as multichain use broadens. Criminals exploit cross-chain capabilities, creating risks for individuals and industries. Such crimes disrupt market trust and complicate asset recovery. The lack of direct regulatory actions further highlights the need for collaboration across borders.
Insights indicate a need for effective law enforcement and compliance strategies to tackle cross-chain laundering successfully. Historical crime trends reveal the importance of technological innovations and collaborative regulatory frameworks.
