Chainalysis Flags $75 Billion in Crypto Linked to Illicit Activity; Highlights Asset Recovery Potential

Blockchain analytics company Chainalysis' latest projections have revealed that over $75 billion (roughly Rs. 6,65,000 crore) worth of cryptocurrency is linked to illegal activity, with a significant portion of that amount being recoverable through organised law enforcement action. The firm's latest report highlights how the transparent nature of blockchain networks could enable governments to identify and seize these assets, a development that may influence discussions about crypto reserves in countries like the US. The findings also reveal that around $15 billion (roughly Rs. 1,33,000 crore) in digital assets are directly held by illicit entities, while another $60 billion (roughly Rs. 5,32,000 crore) sits in wallets with downstream exposure to criminal sources. 

Blockchain Transparency Opens New Avenues For Global Asset Recovery

The report also revealed that more than $46.2 billion (roughly Rs. 4,09,000 crore) in digital assets are collectively controlled by darknet operators and vendors. While Bitcoin remains the dominant cryptocurrency in these holdings, accounting for roughly 75 percent of the total value, the use of stablecoins and Ether has been rising in illicit transactions. 

Chainalysis says the data highlights a new “asset forfeiture opportunity” for international authorities. The overlap between enforcement and reserve-building could become increasingly relevant, with initiatives like the US' proposed Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile aiming to expand crypto holdings through budget-neutral means such as seizures. Jonathan Levin, Chainalysis co-founder and CEO, told Bloomberg that the findings "change how countries think about asset forfeiture potential."

This convergence seems to be developing already, if recent law enforcement actions are any indication. Canadian authorities seized around $40 million (roughly Rs. 354.64 crore) in digital assets from the unregistered exchange TradeOgre earlier this year, sparking debate among crypto advocates about regulatory overreach. These instances, however, demonstrate how blockchain transparency allows governments to track and retrieve money more effectively than in traditional finance. 

Despite the large nominal figure, Chainalysis emphasised that crypto-related crime accounts for a small portion of blockchain activity, or 0.14 percent of total transaction volume in 2024. 

On the other hand, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimates that traditional financial systems launder up to 5 percent of the world's GDP each year. Analysts also suggest that crypto's public traceability often magnifies perceptions of crime, even as data points to declining illicit activity overall.