Summary
This report serves as a comprehensive analysis of the state of cross-chain crime in 2025, detailing the contemporary risks, trends, and best practices to counter them. It outlines the significant increase in cross-chain criminal activities, which have surpassed $21.8 billion, a notable rise from previous years. The report emphasizes the role of North Korea as a prominent threat actor, accounting for approximately 12% of the total estimate. It also discusses the complexities involved in cross-chain investigations, with a substantial percentage involving multiple blockchains. Furthermore, the document presents emerging trends in cross-chain crime, including sophisticated scams and sectoral sanctions risks. The report concludes with an actionable guide on utilizing Elliptic's solutions, highlighting new features such as automated cross-chain tracing to enhance compliance and investigative capabilities. This guide is aimed at compliance teams, regulators, and law enforcement agencies seeking to effectively detect and mitigate cross-chain crime.
