While headlines often focus on Bitcoin\'s fluctuating price, a less discussed but equally important trend is emerging: illicit crypto activity is also taking a significant hit. Forget the outdated notion that cryptocurrencies are solely havens for criminals. In fact, the opposite is becoming increasingly true.
For years, cryptocurrencies were widely perceived to be a safe haven for illegal activity and illicit transactions. Formerly the face of the dark web, the crypto industry fought long and hard to remove its association with illicit activity. Time and again lawmakers across the globe have acknowledged that the reality is different, as demonstrated by the recent retrieval by law enforcement agencies of funds linked to criminal enterprises.
Blockchain intelligence company TRM Labs found that illicit funds made just 0.63 per cent of all crypto value in 2025. This highlights a dramatic decrease compared to earlier years. The criminal use of cryptocurrency is no longer primarily confined to cybercrime activities, but now relates to all types of crime that require the transmission of monetary value. “Technology allows for greater surveillance of tracking and tracing," making it harder than ever for criminals to operate undetected within the crypto ecosystem.
Bitcoin is still the most successful cryptocurrency with the highest market capitalization of up to 53%. Due to its pseudonymous mechanism, bitcoin is being utilized in a variety of transactions, but other blockchains are seeing increased usage as well. Surprisingly, 20 de sept. de 2025. In 2025, the largest percentage of illicit crypto activity occurred on the Tron blockchain (58 per cent), followed by Ethereum (24 per cent), and Bitcoin (12 per cent). This shift suggests criminals are adapting, but so are the tracking and tracing technologies used by law enforcement.
By examining these common myths, we can see that Bitcoin is not just a tool for illicit activities, nor is it devoid of value or an outright environmental hazard. While some misuse undoubtedly exists, the narrative is shifting. The plummeting price of Bitcoin may grab headlines, but the simultaneous decline in illicit crypto activity tells a more complex and ultimately more positive story about the maturing cryptocurrency landscape.