Chainalysis has shed light on a growing trend in cryptocurrency use, revealing that digital funds are being employed to procure low-cost drones and components linked to groups associated with Russia and Iran.
The report highlights the increasing reliance on blockchain analysis to track procurement networks, as investigators begin to map relationships between buyers, intermediaries, and suppliers.
Since the start of the Russia invasion of Ukraine in 2022, pro-Russia groups have raised over $8.3 million in crypto donations, with some campaigns explicitly listing drones as intended purchases.