New Delhi: Highlighting the increasing use of cryptocurrencies for smuggling and money laundering, the directorate of revenue intelligence (DRI) has said that stronger regulatory frameworks, advanced forensic tools and global cooperation are required to curb the misuse of these digital assets.

In its report Smuggling in India 2024-2025, released on Thursday, DRI has highlighted the growing convergence between traditional smuggling networks and emerging digital financial systems.

“The use of cryptocurrency in smuggling has surged in recent years, with stablecoins like USDT increasingly replacing traditional hawala networks. These digital assets enable faster and anonymous settlement, minimal oversight, and weak anti-money laundering (AML) compliance,” it said. Hawala is an informa

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