New Delhi, Feb. 16 -- Cryptocurrency payments to suspected human trafficking syndicates that are largely based in Southeast Asia surged 85% in 2025, with the total transaction volume reaching hundreds of millions of dollars, according to a new report by Chainalysis.

The sharp rise in cryptocurrency payments linked to suspected human trafficking operations is not occurring in isolation. It coincides with the expansion of scam compounds in Southeast Asia, online casinos and gambling platforms, and Chinese-language money laundering and guarantee networks, many of which operate through Telegram, together forming a fast-growing illicit ecosystem with global reach and impact.

The US-based blockchain analytics company said it identified four m...