Iran and North Korea are both using it! Stablecoins have become the preferred virtual asset for illegal transactions, with involved fraud totaling $51 billion.

Author: HIBIKI, Crypto City

FATF: Stablecoins Become the Preferred Tool for Illegal Transactions
According to the latest 42-page report from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), stablecoins are currently the most popular virtual assets used in illegal transactions (including sanctions evasion). Participants include countries like Iran and North Korea, prompting calls for stricter regulation of stablecoin issuers.
FATF previously stated in January that stablecoins account for the majority of on-chain illegal activity transaction volume. The organization estimates that in 2024, illegal stablecoin activities related to scams and fraud will total approximately $51 billion.

North Korea and Iran Love Using Stablecoins
FATF further explains that North Korea’s Lazarus Group and other organizations use stablecoins to purchase military equipment; Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also relies on stablecoins to acquire drone parts. Terrorist groups and drug trafficking organizations heavily depend on Tether ($USDT) and USDC for money transfers and money laundering.
On July 2, 2025, Tether, the issuer of USDT, conducted the largest-ever freeze of Iran-related funds, freezing 42 cryptocurrency wallet addresses, over half of which are heavily linked to the local exchange Nobitex.
As a global standard-setting organization focused on anti-money laundering efforts, FATF points out that stablecoins, with features like price stability and high liquidity, are attractive tools for criminals to transfer funds.

Non-Custodial Wallets Become Vulnerable, Illegal Stablecoin Receipts Hit Record Highs
FATF’s latest report in March 2026 again warns that dollar-pegged stablecoins have become key tools in illegal financial activities.
The organization cites a report from blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis, stating that in 2025, illegal virtual asset transactions totaled $154 billion, with stablecoins accounting for 84%, a stark contrast to the predominantly Bitcoin-based illegal transactions in 2020.

Source: Chainalysis | In 2025, illegal virtual asset transactions reached $154 billion, with stablecoins accounting for 84%

Additionally, according to a report released in mid-February by blockchain analysis firm TRM Labs, illegal entities received a total of $141 billion in stablecoins in 2025, setting a five-year high. The report notes that last year, overall stablecoin activity repeatedly exceeded $1 trillion per month, with activities related to sanctions accounting for 86% of illegal virtual asset flows.
The report emphasizes that malicious actors often hide their sources of funds through cross-chain technology, decentralized exchanges, and OTC brokers. FATF highlights that peer-to-peer transfers via non-custodial wallets are a critical vulnerability. These transactions, conducted in environments lacking anti-money laundering controls, make it difficult for regulators to track geographic locations and actual beneficiaries.

Source: FATF Report | FATF report states that peer-to-peer virtual asset transfers via non-custodial wallets are a key vulnerability

Stablecoin Market Cap Surpasses $300 Billion, Urgent Need for Regulation
It’s important to note that FATF does not call for banning stablecoins outright but strongly urges countries to impose anti-money laundering obligations on stablecoin issuers and intermediaries.
FATF recommends that stablecoin issuers utilize smart contract control features to establish whitelists and blacklists to restrict transactions with certain wallets. Issuers should have the technical capability to intercept, freeze, and destroy suspicious stablecoins in secondary markets. To address cross-border operational challenges, FATF encourages countries to establish transnational regulatory bodies to enhance information sharing and joint oversight.
Currently, the global stablecoin market value has exceeded $300 billion. As adoption accelerates and integration with traditional finance deepens, FATF believes that regulators worldwide must act swiftly and implement blockchain analysis tools to close regulatory and compliance gaps.