Bitcoin

The revelation arrives amid a broader global crackdown on financial crime and money laundering, with regulators increasingly targeting both fiat and crypto payment rails. For crypto, this reinforces the narrative that illicit finance is not unique to digital assets, but it also strengthens the case for tighter KYC/AML controls on crypto exchanges and OTC desks operating in the UK.

BBC finds UK-registered firms linked to payments for small-boat crossings, with smugglers directing migrants to pay through a network of British businesses.