Exploring the extent of international money laundering using cryptocurrency: a systematic scoping review of gaps in research on Southeast Asia’s scam economy

Purpose This systematic scoping review aims to map the peer-reviewed evidence on cryptocurrency-enabled money laundering to highlight significant gaps in knowledge, particularly regarding its role in the rapid expansion of Southeast Asia’s scam economy. It focuses on scam compounds, money mule networks and anti-money laundering/counter-terrorist financing strategies to inform policy responses. Design/methodology/approach Following systematic scoping review guidelines, 7,669 records from five databases (2009–2025) were screened, yielding 25 peer-reviewed studies. Dual-reviewer screening, standardized extraction and thematic synthesis were used, with quality appraisal emphasizing methodological rigor and theoretical depth. Findings Four themes emerged: (1) industrial scam ecosystems in Southeast Asia are linked to crypto-enabled wealth transfer and laundering, though peer-reviewed evidence on these specific regional operations remains limited; (2) offender rationales favor low-risk, high-reward techniques like mixing, privacy coins and high-volume, low-amount transfers; (3) blockchain forensics enable tracing and evidence gathering, but are challenged by evolving privacy tools; and (4) regulatory attempts often lag behind criminal innovation, necessitating financial reforms. However, the review reveals a critical gap: only a minority of studies directly address Southeast Asia’s scam compounds, underscoring the need for targeted research amid the region’s burgeoning scam economy. These themes illustrate that cryptocurrency has become essential financial infrastructure for organized crime, yet empirical insights specific to Southeast Asia remain limited. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first systematic scoping review highlighting the shortage of peer-reviewed research and studies of Southeast Asia’s scam economy in cryptocurrency laundering research, synthesizing broader literature to advocate for criminologically informed interventions.