TRM Labs reports: A 40 per cent increase in the use of AI in encrypted crime

The latest TRM Labs report shows a 40 per cent increase in the use of AI in encryption offences over the past year. Its “AI crime use index”, which is currently 54 points, is at an “emerging” stage, up from about 28 points in 2024, of which fraud is the only type of crime that has reached a “maturity” stage. Since 2022, encrypted fraud reports involving techniques such as in-depth forgery, AI chat robots have accounted for about 13 times the increase in 2026 to date, and the reported loss of in-depth fraud has been 263 per cent higher than in 2025. The report also states that Korean hackers are using deep forgery to infiltrate IT personnel and to carry out social engineering attacks and discoveries with AI。