Cryptocurrencies
Crypto Crime Hits Highs as Thieves Track Buzz, Report Shows
- Chainalysis 2022 crime report shows uptick in scamming revenue
- Crime tracks popular categories like DeFi, data show
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Crypto criminals made off like bandits as digital assets spiked in popularity, according to a 2022 cryptocurrency crime report.
Illicit transactions jumped nearly 80% to $14 billion, an all-time high, in 2021, according to blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis. Overall transaction volume jumped 567%, which shows legitimate transactions outpaced crime. Yet, illegal activity is tracking popular growth categories in crypto, including decentralized finance, or DeFi projects, the data show.