Over the previous six years, there was a major decline in Bitcoin‘s share in felony crypto transactions, in keeping with TRM Labs‘ Illicit Crypto Ecosystem report.
In 2016, Bitcoin accounted for 97% of illicit crypto quantity. In 2022, the share fell to lower than one-fifth or 19% of unlawful crypto quantity, the report famous.
Furthermore, in 2016 two-thirds of crypto stolen from hacks had been within the type of Bitcoin, whereas the share fell to three% in 2022. Instead of Bitcoin, Ethereum and Binance Sensible Chain rose to prominence amongst hackers. Ethereum accounted for 68% of crypto hack quantity, and Binance Sensible Chain accounted for 19%.
Moreover, Bitcoin was the one cryptocurrency for terrorism financing in 2016. Nonetheless, in 2022, property on the Tron blockchain turned a well-liked instrument, accounting for 92% of crypto used for terrorist financing.
The information recommend that cybercriminals have taken a “qualitative leap away” from Bitcoin and are actually exploring different blockchains and property, the report famous. Crypto compliance and danger administration agency TRM Labs mentioned that criminals more and more resort to chain-hopping or transferring property from one blockchain to a different to obfuscate the supply and vacation spot of their ill-gotten funds.
Crypto costs fell in 2022, however crime didn’t.
Crypto costs tanked considerably final 12 months due to high-profile bankruptcies, together with FTX. Nonetheless, this value fall had “no significant impression on the greenback worth of crypto-related crime,” the report famous.
TRM Labs recognized and analyzed 40 various kinds of crypto crimes in its report. In keeping with its estimates, victims misplaced round $7.8 billion to Ponzi or pyramid schemes final 12 months. One other $2 billion price of crypto was stolen via cross-chain assaults.
The report additionally indicated that roughly $1.49 billion was funneled into Darknet markets in 2022, with over 80% of those funds directed to Russian-language darknet markets.
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