4-4-2025 – Scotland’s constabularies are grappling with an unprecedented surge in cryptocurrency-related offences, with incidents soaring by 2,000% since 2019.
The figures, unveiled in a comprehensive 2025 analysis presented to the Scottish Police Authority’s Policing Performance Committee, paint a troubling picture of the digital crime landscape north of the border. The dramatic uptick underscores the mounting pressure on Scotland’s law enforcement apparatus to adapt to an increasingly sophisticated criminal ecosystem.
Whilst Scottish investigators have made notable strides in digital forensics and cryptocurrency tracking capabilities, the absence of a dedicated crypto-crime taskforce remains a glaring vulnerability. This gap in the nation’s cyber defence strategy has prompted calls for urgent reform within the force’s structure.
In response to these challenges, Scottish law enforcement chiefs are orchestrating the formation of a specialised cyber and fraud command unit. This strategic initiative aims to bolster the force’s capacity to tackle the burgeoning wave of digital malfeasance.
However, industry observers note that the rapidly morphing nature of cyber threats continues to outpace institutional responses.
