I just read the 2025 data and it's quite shocking: crypto activity linked to sanctioned entities skyrocketed by 700%, reaching $104 billion. That means illicit transactions on the blockchain totaled $154 billion that year.

The interesting part is seeing how countries like Russia, Iran, and North Korea leverage cryptocurrencies to bypass traditional banking restrictions. In the Russian case, the stablecoin A7A5 (linked to the ruble) became the star tool, moving $93.3 billion. These two exchange platforms offer instant conversions to major stablecoins with minimal KYC, processing over $2.2 billion.

Iran is also active: the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps accounts for more than 50% of the flow. But the leader in fund theft is North Korea, which stole over $2 billion in cyberattacks during 2025.

Another figure that stands out: 84% of on-chain illicit volume moves in stablecoins. Basically, stable crypto assets are the preferred vehicle for these movements. Definitely something to watch closely in 2026.