
PANews|Oct 09, 2025 10:54
[Bloomberg: Over $75 Billion in Cryptocurrency Linked to Illegal Activities Could Be Seized by Governments as Reserves]
According to Bloomberg, U.S. President Trump is leading a global initiative to establish strategic cryptocurrency reserves using assets confiscated from criminals. Research by Chainalysis Inc. reveals that cryptocurrency assets linked to illegal activities and "on-chain" within the reach of law enforcement agencies have exceeded $75 billion. Its CEO, Jonathan Levin, stated that this increases the potential for asset seizure and shifts the perception of governments.
Chainalysis found that by 2025, the on-chain balances of illegal entities will reach nearly $15 billion, while downstream wallets (holding at least 10% of funds from criminal sources) will contain over $60 billion. Cryptocurrencies controlled by darknet market administrators and vendors exceed $40 billion, and of the $15 billion directly held by illegal actors, Bitcoin accounts for approximately 75%, alongside Ethereum and stablecoins, marking a 359% surge compared to five years ago. Downstream wallets show similar trends, with darknet-related wallets exhibiting a compound annual growth rate of over 200%.
However, whether authorities can seize this $75 billion remains uncertain. Despite significant advancements in law enforcement's efforts to combat cryptocurrency-related crimes in recent years, the skills, international cooperation, and funding required to identify, trace, and confiscate digital assets from criminals continue to pose challenges.
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