APAC crypto crime spikes amid legal resource shortages: Chainalysis report

Josh O"Sullivan1 hour agoAPAC crypto crime spikes amid legal resource shortages: Chainalysis reportAPAC’s struggle with increasing crypto crime is exacerbated by a shortage of legal resources and inadequate training for law enforcement.316 Total views5 Total sharesListen to article 0:00NewsOwn this piece of crypto historyCollect this article as NFTJoin us on social networksAccording to the “2024 State of Cryptocurrency Investigations Report” from Chainalysis, the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region is experiencing a perceived substantial rise in crypto-related crime.

The spike in illicit activity coincides with a speculative shortage in legal resources, impacting the region’s ability to actively address and manage the threat of crypto crime.“Respondents expect cryptocurrency to be involved with more cases across a wider variety of criminal activities over the next five years.”Pie chart showing respondent public sector agency. Source: Chainalysis

Speaking with Cointelegraph, Hayato Shigekawa, principal solutions architect at Chainalysis, explained that:“The public sector’s recognition of crypto as an asset class continues to grow, and as we’ve seen in this survey, many believe in its potential to transform finance. However, as cryptocurrency becomes mainstream, it is also becoming a channel for all sorts of crime, not just crypto crime.” 

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According to the report, law enforcement agencies in APAC are struggling to tackle the rise in crypto-related crimes, including drug trafficking, cybercrime and intellectual property crime.

Despite the growing importance of crypto crime investigations, many agencies reported a lack of satisfaction with the current legal resources available. “Overall, more than half of all respondents said they were either extremely dissatisfied or somewhat dissatisfied with their agency’s staffing resources available for crypto investigation.”Chart depicting the type of crimes involving crypto reported by respondents. Source: Chainalysis

On the topic of legal limitations in the APAC region, Shigekawa told Cointelegraph that:“In Japan, there are some legal limitations in digital asset forfeiture, whereas in Singapore, digital assets, including cryptocurrencies, can be seized. That said, equally important to such legal frameworks are the advanced solutions to support onchain investigations and comprehensive training programs.”

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APAC survey respondents tended toward negative perceptions of crypto compared to other regions.“67.7% of APAC respondents strongly or slightly agreed that cryptocurrency is mainly used by criminals and malicious actors.”Infographic on the respondents reported perception of cryptocurrency. Source: Chainalysis

The stark difference in outlook becomes more apparent when contrasted with more optimistic perceptions reported in regions like Latin America and Europe, the Middle East and Africa. 

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Given the strong negative perception of crypto in APAC, the report reveals a pressing need for better education on the complexity of cryptocurrencies.Infographic depicting respondent reported understanding of cryptocurrency. Source: Chainalysis

Due to the low rate of satisfaction with staffing and the technical capabilities of limited legal resources, the report highlights a need for technical resources, as emphasized by Shigekawa:“The data indicates a clear need for enhanced technical resources in many regions, particularly in Latin America and APAC. Investing in advanced technology is essential to address the gaps respondents indicate are impacting their ability to be effective.”

The report also highlighted the need for increased access to educational resources, as almost half of the respondents described themselves as “not very knowledgeable about the asset class.”

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