Chainalysis flags growing use of Telegram-based wallets, DeFi routes, and cross-chain bridges
Crypto-related money laundering activity surged to $82 billion in 2025, as criminals increasingly shifted away from centralized exchanges and began routing illicit funds through Telegram-linked wallets, according to a new report from Chainalysis. The firm estimates that nearly 20% of total crypto laundering flows passed through Telegram-based networks, highlighting a major change in how bad actors move funds across the blockchain ecosystem.
The analysis shows that enforcement actions against centralized platforms have pushed criminals toward escrow-style wallets, DeFi protocols, and cross-chain bridges, making transactions harder to trace. Chainalysis noted that while exchanges are tightening compliance, illicit actors are adapting quickly by fragmenting transactions and using wallet-based ecosystems that operate outside traditional controls. This trend raises fresh concerns for regulators, as wallet-level activity is becoming a key battleground in the fight against crypto money laundering.
