Crypto Scams
Chainalysis 2026 Report: $17 Billion in 2025 Crypto Scams Amid Surging AI Fraud and Hacks
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The Chainalysis 2026 Crypto Crime Report, published January 13, 2026, reveals at least $14 billion stolen in 2025 scams—projected to reach $17 billion—driven by a 1,400% surge in AI-boosted impersonation tactics, amid broader losses including $4 billion from hacks per PeckShield and $154 billion in total illicit volumes linked to nation-state actors.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has warned residents about a rise in cryptocurrency ATM scams, which cost victims more than $170 million last year. She launched a new fraud complaint form to help those affected report incidents quickly. The scams typically involve fraudsters directing people to deposit cash into bitcoin kiosks found at everyday locations like gas stations.
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Scammers have stolen more than $4.6 million from residents in Wyoming's three largest cities—Cheyenne, Gillette, and Sheridan—primarily via cryptocurrency ATMs, with $3 million lost in Gillette alone. Operating often from abroad, fraudsters target older victims using familiar tactics like impersonating authorities. Law enforcement reports highlight the untraceable nature of these machines, while education campaigns and proposed regulations seek to stem losses.