The Ertzaintza, the police force of Spain's Basque Country, has reported a significant increase in cryptocurrency-related crime, with 541 active cases under investigation from 2025. This surge is part of a broader trend across Europe, where law enforcement agencies are grappling with more sophisticated and organized crypto-enabled offenses.
The cases being investigated include 13 alleged fraud schemes, alongside numerous instances of money laundering, embezzlement, and asset concealment. Police noted that cryptocurrency is often used as a "rail" to move or hide illicit funds. A specific threat highlighted is the rise of bogus crypto investment schemes on social media platforms like Instagram, where scammers use stolen identities to pose as friends offering fraudulent advice.
In response, the Ertzaintza has invested in new tools to monitor transactions across multiple blockchains and formed specialized, cross-departmental teams. A new cybersecurity unit staffed with 26 detectives now coordinates these efforts. The force also collaborated with national police in December 2024 to dismantle a major voice phishing and drug trafficking ring that used crypto for money laundering.
This local situation reflects a wider European pattern. Europol has labeled crypto-enabled fraud and laundering a "significant burden." A 2026 report from TRM Labs estimated illicit wallets received $158 billion in 2025, a 145% year-on-year increase, though this still represented only about 1.2% of total crypto transaction volume.
The news comes amidst Spain's reputation for stringent crypto regulation. Since 2021, exchanges like Binance and Coinbase have been forced to share customer data with the government. Lawmakers are now backing a proposal to tax crypto gains as general income, potentially exposing high earners to rates up to 47%.
