A shadowy crypto-to-cash system is surging in Canada. Star reporters went undercover to reveal how it works episode artwork

EPISODE · Dec 5, 2025 · 26 MIN

A shadowy crypto-to-cash system is surging in Canada. Star reporters went undercover to reveal how it works

from This Matters · host Toronto Star

Guests: Toronto Star journalists Sheila Wang and Emma McIntosh A major joint investigation involving the Toronto Star, CBC/Radio-Canada, La Presse and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists has uncovered more than 100 crypto-to-cash operations running across Canada, with many of them unregistered, unregulated, and openly violating anti–money laundering laws. As part of this collaboration, Star reporters went undercover to see just how easy it is to turn anonymous cryptocurrency into hard cash with no ID  and no record of the transaction. In this episode, we break down how these crypto-to-cash services actually work, why experts say they pose a serious risk for money laundering, organized crime and other illicit activity, and why Canadian regulators have struggled to stop a parallel financial system that's operating in plain sight. This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz and Sean Pattendon.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Dec 5, 2025

Embed this episode

NOW PLAYING

A shadowy crypto-to-cash system is surging in Canada. Star reporters went undercover to reveal how it works

0:00 26:07

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of This Matters?

This episode is 26 minutes long.

When was this This Matters episode published?

This episode was published on December 5, 2025.

Can I download this This Matters episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!