Hackers Ditch Mixers for Bridges in Lightning-Fast Crypto Laundering Play, Experts State
Cross-chain bridges have surpassed traditional mixers as the primary tool for laundering stolen crypto in early 2025, moving over $1.5 billion in hacked funds. Their speed, liquidity, and lighter regulatory scrutiny have made them more appealing than mixers like Twister Money for obscuring asset origins.
The Changing Landscape of Crypto Crime
The first half of 2025 marked one of the most damaging periods in the history of cryptocurrency hacks. According to a recent report by Global Ledger shared with crypto.news, more than $3 billion was stolen in 119 separate events, exceeding total losses for all of 2024 by more than 50%. Hackers are now moving stolen funds at unprecedented speeds, often laundering them before the theft is even publicly known, fundamentally altering the dynamics of crypto crime.
According to Sam Boolman, ChainIntel’s lead analyst, “The swift movement of stolen assets by hackers poses a significant challenge to existing alerting systems and regulatory bodies. The shift towards cross-chain bridges as a preferred laundering method demonstrates the evolving tactics of illicit actors in the crypto space.”
Bridges Outpace Mixers as Laundering Tools
Cross-chain protocols have become the favored method for laundering stolen crypto, with over $1.5 billion, or 50.1% of all hacked assets, being routed through bridges in early 2025. This substantial amount overshadows the funds sent to traditional crypto mixers, highlighting the increasing use of bridges for obfuscating the origin of illegally obtained funds.
Crypto Exchanges Remain Primary Cash-Out Points
Centralized exchanges still serve as the primary destinations for laundering stolen funds, with approximately 15% of hacked assets flowing into these platforms for further cash-out. Despite the rise of decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms, central exchanges continue to be the go-to option for hackers looking to convert stolen crypto into fiat or other assets with less traceability.
Recovery Efforts and Enforcement Actions
The report reveals that a significant portion of stolen funds, totaling $379 million, was frozen or burned, likely due to enforcement actions. However, voluntary returns of stolen assets remain scarce, highlighting the ongoing challenges in recovering illegally obtained funds.
The Need for Rapid Intervention
With adversaries completing the laundering process at alarming speeds, law enforcement faces a shrinking window of opportunity to track and freeze assets. The report underscores the critical importance of swift intervention to prevent the total laundering of stolen funds before they disappear into the crypto ecosystem.
As the crypto landscape continues to evolve, the ability to anticipate and respond to emerging trends in crypto crime will be crucial in safeguarding the integrity of the digital asset space.
