Odaily Planet Daily News: The latest report from the UK National Crime Agency (NCA) shows that the amount of illegal cryptocurrency transactions related to the UK is as high as $5.1 billion each year. The report pointed out that the frequency of cryptocurrency crimes has increased, especially money laundering activities, and this trend is expected to continue until 2024. The report said that cryptocurrencies remain an important tool for criminal transactions, money laundering, paying for goods and services on the dark web, and demanding ransoms, and the public's legal use of them also provides criminals with opportunities for fraud and theft. Between $1.7 billion and $5.1 billion in illegal crypto transactions are related to the UK each year, of which a "significant part" involves overseas personnel. In 2023, the NCA established a dedicated cryptocurrency unit and was granted greater seizure powers in April 2024, including the seizure of crypto assets without arresting suspects. The report also describes the role of the NCA in combating the LockBit cybercrime gang, which received more than $120 million in ransoms from more than 2,000 victims worldwide. (Decrypt)