Odaily Planet Daily News: A new report from Chainalysis pointed out that illegal crypto activities in countries sanctioned by the US government have surged, receiving nearly $16 billion in digital assets last year, accounting for about 39% of illegal token transactions. 2024 is the year when these countries (especially Iran) will exceed individuals in sanctions-related activities. The report stated: "As Western restrictions tighten, sanctioned countries are turning to cryptocurrencies and alternative financial systems to maintain trade and obtain capital." In addition, the cryptocurrency mixing platform Tornado Cash was hit by US authorities in 2023, but by 2024, this popular service was still able to process hundreds of millions of dollars in cryptocurrency transactions each month, although it has not yet returned to pre-sanction levels. (Coindesk)