Chainalysis: $75B in Illicit Crypto On-Chain — Bitcoin Dominates Darknet Holdings as U.S. Seizes $15–$20B

According to Bloomberg reporting on Chainalysis research, more than $75 billion in crypto assets are associated with illicit activity and remain on-chain within reach of authorities. Chainalysis estimates illicit-entity on-chain balances near $15 billion, while downstream wallets (with at least 10% criminal provenance) hold over $60 billion; darknet market administrators and vendors control in excess of $40 billion, with roughly $15 billion held directly by illicit actors and Bitcoin comprising about 75%.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bennett has stated U.S. seizures total approximately $15–$20 billion in Bitcoin, highlighting a precedent for asset forfeiture. Despite intensified law enforcement activity, Chainalysis notes that identifying, tracing and securing these cryptocurrency reserves is constrained by technical capacity, cross-border cooperation and funding, limiting immediate access to the full pool of illicit assets.