According to Australian studies, 47% of all bitcoin transactions happen on the darknet. And, of course, involve criminal activity.
Cryptocurrency is ideal for illegal operations, providing the necessary level of anonymity. Tracking a wallet’s owner is extremely difficult, despite the fact that in the blockchain everything is transparent and open. Such a paradox. Basically, cryptocurrencies give carte blanche to the outlawed.
This kind of FUD has been around since the days of the Silk Road - when people thought Bitcoin was a currency only used to purchase drugs. That perception has changed but once in a while articles like this do come. Criminals, like all other people, look for the utility value of different technologies. They recognize the potential and value of cryptocurrencies and use it as a medium of exchange. Nobody is talking about shutting down the internet just because some illegal activities take place there.