Illicit cryptocurrency transactions amounted to $40.9 billion in 2024, of which 63% were carried out using stablecoins, Chainalysis reports. The projected final volume is $51.3 billion.

Criminal transactions account for only 0.14% of the total cryptocurrency turnover. The bulk of the stolen funds ($2.2 billion) came from DeFi, and hackers, including from North Korea, stole a record $1.34 billion.

Artificial intelligence is actively used in fraud, including for highly personalized attacks. Darknet marketplaces received $2 billion, and fraudulent stores reduced revenue to $220.1 million. Organized crime networks attracted $10.8 billion of the total.

Despite the popularity of stablecoins, Bitcoin remains the main tool of ransomware and darknet markets. Monero was not included in the report.