Could Ransomware Survive Without Cryptocurrency?

Ransomware activity has increased sharply through 2023–2025, driven less by cryptocurrency alone and more by poor cyber hygiene and organizations' willingness to pay; sanctions and payment bans have had limited impact as attackers adapt, sell stolen data, and leverage ransomware-as-a-service to scale. Experts emphasize strengthening backups, multifactor authentication, and avoiding ransom payments, while noting that tighter cryptocurrency regulation could impede but not eliminate ransomware operations.