Authorized Push Payment (APP) fraud is one of the biggest threats targeting crypto users. In 2024 alone, scammers claimed an estimated $12.4 billion by manipulating victims into willingly sending crypto payments. Crypto’s speed, irreversibility, and pseudonymity make it attractive to scammers, but awareness and proactive prevention can help keep your funds safe. In our latest blog, we cover:

• Top APP scams: Investment scams and pig butchering account for the most losses. Other tactics include rug pulls, imposter scams, address poisoning, employment fraud, fake giveaways, and business email compromise (BEC).
• Proactive protection: Verify counterparties carefully, dismiss unrealistic or urgent offers, use multi-signature wallets, and deploy AI-powered fraud detection solutions like Chainalysis Alterya to identify and block fraud in real-time.
• Regulatory response: The UK has created a framework for victim restitution, while countries like Australia now require platforms to identify and report scams. Enhanced collaboration between regulators and blockchain analytics providers marks a notable shift from reactive damage control to true prevention and intervention.

Learn more about the nuances of APP fraud and how Chainalysis solutions are helping protect the crypto ecosystem.

Yesterday, the U.S. Treasury’s OFAC sanctioned a network linked to the Iran-backed Houthis that used cryptocurrency to finance weapons purchases from Russia, commodities procurement, and sanctions evasion. On-chain analysis revealed nearly $1 billion in illicit funds.

Last week, with the help of Chainalysis, the U.S. DOJ and FBI announced the seizure of approximately $200,000 in cryptocurrency linked to Hamas terrorism financing. The funds were raised globally through encrypted chats, totaling approximately $1.5 million, despite Hamas publicly announcing that it would end crypto fundraising in 2023.

Links 2025 NYC was a portrait of momentum in a rapidly maturing industry — one that’s leaning into transparency, collaboration, and embracing innovation not as a buzzword, but as a blueprint for the future. Catch the highlights in our recaps of Day 1 and Day 2.

Jacqueline Burns Koven, Head of Cyber Threat Intelligence, testified before the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services on the blockchain tools and techniques needed to defeat fraud.

Eric Jardine, Head of Cyber Crimes Research, shared insights with Coindesk on the return of bitcoin as the preferred currency for darknet markets and how law enforcement can stay ahead.

Couldn’t attend Chainalysis Links in person? The digital premiere brings key insights from investigators, compliance professionals, and web3 security experts straight to you in the comfort of home. The sessions will explore the state of the industry, global policy developments, and expert-led demos with real-world case studies. Register for free.

Crime

New court documents reveal how the FBI used Chainalysis to track and freeze millions from the 2023 ransomware attack on Caesars casino

Iranian officials allegedly steal $21M in cryptocurrency while ‘investigating’ corruption

Google warns Solana projects that stealth IT workers from North Korea are increasingly targeting European organizations

REGULATION

U.S. Congress urged to reform anti-money laundering rules and repeal Corporate Transparency Act amid rising fraud costs

Australia’s AUSTRAC puts crypto ATM providers on notice to prevent illicit exploitation

Stablecoin ‘STABLE Act’ advances through U.S. House Financial Services Committee, will now head to a full House vote

ADOPTION

Crypto donations for humanitarian aid and other causes may top $2.5B in 2025

How compliance-friendly privacy solutions can unlock blockchain’s business potential

Customers at 7-Eleven in South Korea can now pay with the Bank of Korea’s CBDC as part of pilot for retail use

Buda.com, a crypto exchange operating in Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Argentina sought to strengthen its compliance and security program to protect its growing user base. By partnering with Chainalysis, Buda.com has successfully prevented nearly 1,500 risky transactions, reduced scams, and confidently expanded its customer base and established new partnerships. “Chainalysis is an important ally in detecting new scams and keeping our users safe in a manageable way,” said María Jesús Bustamante, Chief Compliance Officer at Buda.com.

Learn more about how Chainalysis empowers secure growth for exchanges in Latin America

Chainalysis is the blockchain data platform. We provide data, software, services, and research to government agencies, exchanges, financial institutions, and insurance and cybersecurity companies in over 70 countries. Our data powers investigation, compliance, and market intelligence software that has been used to solve some of the world’s most high-profile criminal cases and grow consumer access to cryptocurrency safely. Backed by Accel, Addition, Benchmark, Coatue, GIC, Paradigm, Ribbit, and other leading firms in venture capital, Chainalysis builds trust in blockchains to promote more financial freedom with less risk. For more information, visit www.chainalysis.com.