Cryptocurrencies Fueling Fentanyl Trade: Unveiling the Dark Side of Digital Currency

Chinese chemical suppliers for Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid linked to thousands of U.S. drug overdose deaths, reportedly accept cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Tether. Blockchain analytics firm Elliptic published a research report identifying 80 China-based firms offering Fentanyl precursors in exchange for cryptocurrencies, raising concerns about the misuse of digital currencies for illicit substances and posing questions about regulatory efforts to combat crypto’s role in drug trafficking.