Crypto flows to suspected human trafficking networks rose 85% year over year in 2025, with total transaction volumes reaching hundreds of millions of dollars, according to a report by Chainalysis. Most activity is linked to networks in Southeast Asia and is closely connected to scam compounds, online casinos, and Chinese-language money-laundering groups.

The tracked activity includes Telegram-based escort services, forced labor recruitment tied to scam centers, prostitution rings, and vendors of child exploitation material. Stablecoins are the dominant payment method, especially for escort and prostitution services.

Chainalysis says blockchain transparency can help law enforcement detect and disrupt these operations by analyzing transaction patterns, wallet clusters, and exchange chokepoints. The firm highlighted several successful enforcement actions last year, including the takedown of a child exploitation platform supported by blockchain analysis.