Real-time crypto laundering exposes CEX vulnerabilities — Report
New data shows stolen crypto is laundered within minutes, often before hacks are even disclosed.
A new report from Swiss blockchain analytics company Global Ledger reveals that over $3.01 billion was stolen across 119 crypto hacks in the first half of 2025, surpassing the total for all of 2024. Even more alarming is a trend beyond the rising volume: speed.
The report analyzed onchain data tied to each exploit, and tracked how quickly attackers moved funds through mixers, bridges and centralized exchanges. By mapping the time between the initial incident and the final laundering endpoint, researchers found that laundering now happens in minutes, often before a hack is even disclosed.
According to the report, laundering was fully completed before the breach became public in nearly 23% of cases. In many others, the stolen funds were already in motion when victims realized what had happened. In such cases, by the time a hack is reported, it may be too late.
