ChainCatcher news, a report from the United Nations shows that Telegram has become a haven for criminal networks in Southeast Asia, helping them to launder money using cryptocurrency, trade hacked data, and acquire fraud tools.The United Nations states that end-to-end encrypted applications have fundamentally changed the way organized crime operates. Criminal enterprises in Southeast Asia generate annual revenues between $27.4 billion and $36.5 billion.It has been reported that unlicensed cryptocurrency exchanges are also advertising money laundering services on the app. An advertisement identified by the United Nations claims, "We transfer 3 million USDT stolen from overseas every day."Criminal networks use Telegram to trade stolen sensitive information, from credit details to passwords, and purchase malware designed to steal funds. At least 10 deepfake software providers have also been found promoting their services to criminals.

ChainCatcher news, according to Caixin, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) recently released the latest "2024 Digital Economy Report" (hereinafter referred to as "the report").The report states that while digitalization has driven global economic growth and provided unique opportunities for developing countries, its impact on the environment is becoming increasingly severe. The report shows that the demand for data transmission, processing, and storage is continuously growing due to new technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, 5G, and the Internet of Things, which has also increased greenhouse gas emissions. The global energy consumption generated by Bitcoin "mining" has grown by approximately 34 times from 2015 to 2023.

ChainCatcher news, according to a report by Cointelegraph, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has issued a report warning that cryptocurrencies are being abused in the illegal economies of East Asia and Southeast Asia.Criminals are engaging in illegal gambling and fraud activities in poorly regulated special economic zones and areas controlled by autonomous armed groups. A specialized tourism industry has emerged around casinos, where so-called intermediaries not only provide travel and accommodation but have also been able to act as "entities similar to international banks, offering various underground financial services, including credit issuance, currency exchange, multi-currency payment and settlement solutions, remittances, and extrajudicial debt collection mechanisms that have been exploited."According to the report, USDT issued on the Tron blockchain is the most popular among financial wrongdoers in the region due to its stability, ease of use, anonymity, and low fees. Local cryptocurrency exchanges may also play a role in money laundering.