Tornado Cash Named Most Used Privacy Protocol in Laundering Cases

Crypto privacy tools are built to protect users, but they are also a favorite for bad actors. New research from over 200 on chain investigations conducted between 2025 and 2026 shows one name stands out far above the rest.

Tornado Cash appeared in 107 different investigations. That is more than five times the count for its closest competitor, Railgun, which appeared in 18 cases. Other protocols like NEAR Intents and Wasabi followed with much lower numbers, showing just how dominant Tornado Cash remains for those looking to hide their funds.

Privacy protocols make it hard to track where money goes by breaking the visible links between wallet addresses. While tools like Railgun use advanced tech to hide transaction details, they also include systems to prove funds are clean. However, the sheer volume of cases involving Tornado Cash suggests it is still the primary go to for obscuring transactions.

It is important to note that these figures track how often a protocol shows up in a case, not the total amount of money moved. As regulators keep a closer eye on these tools, the industry will need to find a balance between user privacy and preventing illegal activity.