Web3 Blockchain Intelligence Platforms Compared: Features and Trade-Offs

Decision-makers are spoiled for choice in 2025: blockchain intelligence now spans compliance and investigations, growth analytics, and live security monitoring. This guide compares leading platforms by what they actually do today, where they shine, what they miss, and how to assemble a pragmatic stack that delivers results fast.

TL;DR (Meta description)

A practical, 2025-ready comparison of blockchain intelligence platforms—Chainalysis, TRM Labs, Elliptic, Nansen, Arkham, Dune, Glassnode, Coin Metrics, Bitquery, Crystal, Scorechain, and Forta—covering features, chain coverage, recent product changes, trade-offs, and deployment patterns you can use now. (chainalysis.com)

The three jobs of “blockchain intelligence” in 2025

Compliance and investigations: AML/KYC/KYT, sanctions screening, entity attribution, court-tested tracing, indirect exposure, Travel Rule. Platforms: Chainalysis, TRM Labs, Elliptic, Crystal, Scorechain, Merkle Science. (chainalysis.com)
Growth and market intelligence: wallet labeling at scale, cohort behavior, DeFi/NFT flow, competitor tracking, treasury exposures, and API-grade data. Platforms: Nansen, Arkham, Dune, Glassnode, Coin Metrics, Bitquery. (docs.nansen.ai)
Runtime security monitoring: decentralized detectors, attack signals, and automated containment. Platforms: Forta (detectors) + OpenZeppelin Defender (incident response). (docs.forta.network)

Why this matters: investigations increasingly span many chains, mixers, bridges, and DEX paths; OFAC’s Sinbad designation underscored cross-chain laundering typologies you must detect today. (home.treasury.gov)

What’s materially changed lately (so your 2022 RFP is outdated)

Chain breadth at the top end surged. Chainalysis states KYT covers 400+ networks and 50M+ tokens with real-time alerts “within seconds.” TRM moved to a tiered coverage model (Standard vs. Enhanced), and by November 2025 reports 133+ networks overall. Elliptic says it now covers 50+ blockchains and 250+ bridges with cross-asset tracing. (chainalysis.com)
Growth analytics matured: Nansen Query and API span 20+ chains with steady additions (Bitcoin, Scroll, Linea, Base, TON, Monad, Hyperliquid, etc.). Dune claims 100-chain coverage and a multichain Echo API. Arkham added AI “Insights,” exchange flows, and configurable dashboards plus an Intel marketplace for bounties. Glassnode expanded into multi-asset derivatives IV/skew and treasury metrics. (release.nansen.ai)
Security monitoring went operational: Forta’s Attack Detector 2.0 (with BlockSec/Nethermind) integrates into Defender to auto-trigger pause actions during exploits. OpenZeppelin announced a planned sunset of hosted Defender by July 1, 2026, focusing on open-source Monitor/Relayer—plan migrations accordingly. (forta.org)
Vendor landscape shifts: Mastercard confirmed in March 2024 it shut down several CipherTrace products (Armada, Inspector, Sentry); if you still rely on these, re-evaluate your stack. (fortune.com)

Compliance and Investigations: strengths and trade-offs

Chainalysis

Where it shines
- KYT at scale with seconds-level alerting; extensive entity graphing and cross-chain tracing across bridges/mixers/DEX paths; free sanctions screening API; Storyline/Reactor workflows are widely used by regulators and exchanges. Coverage claims: 400+ networks and 50M+ tokens. (chainalysis.com)
Trade-offs to weigh
- Premium pricing; closed data model (great for compliance, less flexible for custom data science vs. raw-data vendors).

Practical example: If your exchange lists a new XRPL token or a Plasma L1 asset, KYT auto-ingests token standards (XLS-20/MPT on XRPL; ERC-20/721 on Plasma), so you don’t wait for manual token onboarding. (chainalysis.com)

TRM Labs

Where it shines
- Tiered chain coverage (Standard/Enhanced) clarifies exactly what you get per chain; broad and fast additions (Hyperliquid, Sui, Sei, Canton, XRPL EVM, Katana/Polygon 2.0, XDC, etc.); universal wallet screening across 90+ chains (earlier) and ongoing growth past 100 chains; Beacon Network for coordinated, real-time crime response across exchanges and law enforcement. (trmlabs.com)
Trade-offs
- Enhanced tracing depth isn’t uniform across all chains; confirm whether a target chain is Enhanced vs. Standard before go-live.

Practical example: For a fraud ring hopping via TON → Hyperliquid → Base, Standard support still screens ownership/counterparty and severe/high-risk indirect exposure; Enhanced chains add deeper forensics in Forensics/Triage. (trmlabs.com)

Elliptic

Where it shines
- Holistic Screening across 50+ blockchains and 250+ bridges; large-scale monthly screenings and a 52B+ relationship graph emphasize cross-asset detection through swaps/bridges/coinswaps. (ellipticscreener.com)
Trade-offs
- Entity catalog overlap with competitors varies; run POCs on your specific typologies (e.g., cross-bridge laundering via Aurora/Solana) to test recall/precision.

Context: Elliptic’s 2025 data indicates 20% of complex cases spanned 10+ chains—matching what many compliance teams now see post-bridge era. (coindesk.com)

Crystal Intelligence (Bitfury)

Where it shines
- Good European footprint, strong LE/regulator adoption; in Nov 2025 Crystal added XDC Network (a trade-finance/RWA-focused chain), useful for banks testing tokenized Treasuries, trade assets, or gold-backed tokens. (crystalintelligence.com)
Trade-offs
- Smaller global brand than the “big three”; verify label depth on long-tail DeFi/NFT protocols you monitor.

Scorechain

Where it shines
- EU-based compliance platform with KYA/KYT reporting, Travel Rule integrations, and a claim of 100 chain coverage and 1B+ labeled entities; approachable UI and audit-ready exports. (scorechain.com)
Trade-offs
- Test for newer L2/Appchain label freshness and indirect exposure logic compared to larger US vendors.

Merkle Science

Where it shines
- Predictive, behavior-based risk engine; Tracker cross-chain investigations with split-view for EVM/TRON; frequent UI/monitoring updates; growing APAC presence. (merklescience.com)
Trade-offs
- Coverage depth on some smaller ecosystems may trail larger peers; confirm bridge coverage for your attack surface.

Regulatory note you must model for: OFAC’s 2023 Sinbad.io designation (and subsequent actions) remains a seminal “mixers-after-bridges” typology; make sure your vendor flags Atomic Wallet, Ronin, Horizon flows and multi-hop BTC tumbling consistent with that case. (home.treasury.gov)

Growth and Market Intelligence: who helps you move faster

Nansen

What’s new
- Over 20 chains in Query and continuous additions: support for Bitcoin, Scroll, Linea, Base, TON, Hyperliquid, Monad, Plasma, Starknet, Sei, Ronin, Unichain; “Smart Money,” Profiler, Token God Mode dashboards; Portfolio coverage added 30+ protocols in Sept 2025 (e.g., EigenLayer/Jito/Marinade, Uniswap v2–v4 across major L2s). (docs.nansen.ai)
Best for
- GTM, competitor tracking, ecosystem growth, and investor relations—less for court-grade investigations.

Arkham Intelligence

What’s new
- Intel Marketplace (bounties), AI Insights on entity pages, “Oracle” Q&A, Exchange flows, dashboards, tracer/visualizer, and API for attribution (“Ultra” engine). Recent public work includes surfacing wallets tied to large treasuries/ETPs. (codex.arkm.com)
Best for
- Fast-moving attribution and alerts on high-value entities, whales, exchange flows, and PR-grade transparency dashboards.

Caveat: Intel-to-earn bounties are powerful but may not meet evidentiary standards. Use Arkham for discovery and corroborate with a compliance-grade tool before acting on attributions. (altcoinbuzz.io)

Dune

What’s new
- 100-chain coverage and Echo API for devs; massive community of analysts; fastest route to multichain dashboards without standing up your own warehouse. (dune.com)
Best for
- BI teams that want repeatable dashboards and community queries across emergent L2s and appchains.

Glassnode

What’s new
- Expanded entity-adjusted metrics beyond BTC/ETH; new derivatives IV/skew indices (BTC/ETH/SOL/XRP/BNB/PAXG), treasury metrics for companies/governments across major assets; PiT variants for near-real-time analysis. (docs.glassnode.com)
Best for
- Macro research, investor reporting, and quant inputs (with methodology transparency).

Coin Metrics

What’s new
- Network Data Pro covers 200+ assets; consistent schema and high-integrity timeseries for risk, quant, and custodial reporting. (gitbook-docs.coinmetrics.io)

Bitquery (raw data backbone)

What it does
- Pre-indexed GraphQL, streaming/kafka feeds, and data-on-demand across 40+ chains; sub-second responses for complex queries; MoneyFlow tool for investigators. Great to power internal models when you need raw, enriched tables. (docs.bitquery.io)

Runtime Security Monitoring: detect and react, automatically

Forta Network: decentralized “detection bots” and scan nodes publish alerts on exploits, anomalous events, and protocol risks across major chains; Attack Detector 2.0 premium feed launched with BlockSec/Nethermind. (docs.forta.network)
OpenZeppelin Defender: integrates Forta alerts to auto-trigger pause/mitigation; migration to open-source Monitor/Relayer underway with hosted Defender slated to retire July 1, 2026—budget for this in 2025–2026 roadmaps. (forta.org)

Example playbook: Subscribe to Forta Attack Detector in Defender; when an alert ID matches high-confidence exploit signatures, auto-execute a safe, pre-approved pause function with multi-sig approvals and Flashbots protection. (forta.org)

Side-by-side: when to pick which (real-world patterns)

Regulated exchange in the U.S. and EU
- Primary: Chainalysis KYT/Reactor or TRM Transaction Monitoring/Forensics for real-time alerting and indirect exposure; Elliptic for cross-asset/bridge depth and second-source screening. Validate against 2023–2025 mixer/bridge cases (e.g., Sinbad/Tornado/Blender-linked typologies). (chainalysis.com)
Bank piloting on-chain RWAs and stablecoin settlements
- Pair a compliance tool (Crystal for XDC visibility; TRM/Chainalysis for broad coverage) with a market data layer (Glassnode/Coin Metrics) and Nansen for ecosystem counterparties; master card-rail/stablecoin policy implications separately (e.g., Mastercard’s stablecoin enablement stack). (crystalintelligence.com)
DeFi protocol needing 24/7 exploit response
- Forta + Defender for alerts-to-actions; layer a compliance view (TRM Standard chain coverage is often enough for triage) to identify attacker off-ramps. Plan migration off hosted Defender before July 2026. (forta.org)
Treasury/IR team tracking competitor wallets, exchange flows, and market microstructure
- Nansen for “who is buying/selling,” Arkham for entity dashboards and whale alerts, Glassnode for macro on-chain + derivatives; Dune for internal dashboards spanning your chain set. (nansen.ai)

Evaluation checklist (stuff that changes outcomes)

Chain coverage, but with nuance
- Confirm not just “supported” but whether it’s Standard vs. Enhanced (TRM) and which features light up per chain (tokens, NFTs, DEX, bridges, L2 messaging). Ask for the chain coverage doc and last update timestamp. (trmlabs.com)
Data latency and alert SLAs
- Aim for seconds-level screening and sub-minute alerts on the chains you settle on; Chainalysis explicitly states seconds-level on KYT—benchmark others. (chainalysis.com)
Indirect exposure logic
- Does the tool walk as many hops “until an identified service is hit”? Can you cap or weight exposures by category? Chainalysis spells this out; test equivalents on peers. (chainalysis.com)
Bridges and coinswaps detection
- Elliptic markets specific cross-asset screening (DEX, coinswaps, bridges) with 250+ bridges—replicate your obfuscation scenarios. (ellipticscreener.com)
Training and collaboration
- TRM Academy courses (TON, TRON, Solana) help onboard teams quickly; collaborative casework speeds seizures. (trmlabs.com)
Exportability and APIs
- If you need internal modeling, pair your “black box” tool with Bitquery or Dune Echo for raw data; evaluate Arkham API if you lean on attribution surfacing. (bitquery.io)
Vendor stability signals
- Track product sunsets and pivots (e.g., CipherTrace shutdown of key products in 2024); plan contingencies before contracts renew. (fortune.com)

Emerging best practices we see winning in 2025

Two-vendor triangulation for critical actions
- Use one compliance-grade platform as “system of record,” and a second (often Elliptic or TRM/Chainalysis counterpart) to confirm red flags before freezing. It reduces false positives where cross-chain hops muddy provenance. (elliptic.co)
SOC with on-chain runtime signals
- Pipe Forta alerts into your SIEM and orchestrate Defender playbooks; test monthly against recorded attack simulations. (docs.forta.network)
Label QA and golden datasets
- Maintain internal “golden labels” for high-risk entities you repeatedly see; compare vendor labels quarterly. If deltas exceed a threshold, open tickets and adjust rules.
Scenario-driven POCs, not laundry-list RFPs
- Use four scenarios: (1) sanctioned mixer exposure via cross-chain hops, (2) bridge exploit proceeds laundering, (3) social-engineering scam cash-outs, (4) RWA chain counterparty screening (e.g., XDC participants). Score tools by time-to-answer and false-positive rate. (home.treasury.gov)
Real-time BI for GTM
- Nansen/Arkham for exchange flows, whales, and protocol adoption; Dune for multichain self-serve dashboards; Glassnode/Coin Metrics to explain moves to the board with consistent timeseries. (nansen.ai)

A pragmatic reference stack (startups → enterprises)

Compliance core
- Option A: Chainalysis KYT + Reactor; Option B: TRM Transaction Monitoring + Forensics; Layer Elliptic Screening when bridge/coinswap visibility is business-critical. (chainalysis.com)
Data backbone
- Bitquery GraphQL/streams for internal models and case enrichment; Dune Echo when you want managed, analytics-ready multichain data. (bitquery.io)
Growth intelligence
- Nansen (Smart Money/Profiler/Query) + Arkham (AI Insights, whales, dashboards). (docs.nansen.ai)
Runtime security
- Forta Attack Detector 2.0 + Defender incident response; plan to migrate to open-source Monitor/Relayer before July 1, 2026. (forta.org)

Implementation blueprint (30/60/90 days)

0–30 days
- Define chain footprint and top 10 risk typologies; shortlist two compliance vendors + one data backbone; subscribe to Forta feeds; stand up Dune workspace or Bitquery streams. (docs.forta.network)
31–60 days
- Run scenario POCs (mixer/bridge/scam/RWA); instrument seconds-level alert pipelines; deploy Nansen/Arkham dashboards for PMM/BD; begin Defender playbooks for auto-pause. (nansen.ai)
61–90 days
- Productionize KYT and case workflows; draft regulator-facing SOPs; stand up quarterly label QA; document Defender migration plan for 2026. (chainalysis.com)

Platform-by-platform quick notes (gotchas to test)

Chainalysis: validate indirect exposure thresholds on high-noise chains; confirm token auto-support on networks you list next (XRPL XLS-20/MPT; Plasma EVM). (chainalysis.com)
TRM Labs: confirm whether your target chain is “Enhanced” if you need deep entity analytics; Beacon Network participation can speed interdictions with exchanges. (trmlabs.com)
Elliptic: if your risk profile includes aggressive cross-asset obfuscation, Holistic Screening’s bridge/coinswap/DEX modeling is a differentiator—test it on your flows. (ellipticscreener.com)
Crystal: if piloting trade-finance RWAs, the XDC integration is practically useful (counterparty visibility). (crystalintelligence.com)
Scorechain: strong EU track record and Travel Rule workflows; verify real coverage of your long-tail L2s. (scorechain.com)
Merkle Science: the split-view investigation UI helps on dense EVM/Tron graphs; check bridge catalog and token heuristics for your sectors. (merklescience.com)
Nansen: fastest to market-facing insights (Smart Money, Token God Mode), with chain coverage expanding (e.g., Bitcoin, Scroll, Linea, TON, Hyperliquid). (release.nansen.ai)
Arkham: AI insights and Intel marketplace accelerate discovery; treat attributions as leads (corroborate for compliance). (info.arkm.com)
Dune: 100 chains means your BI team can standardize on one surface; Echo API reduces DIY data plumbing. (dune.com)
Glassnode & Coin Metrics: combine for investor-grade narratives (entity-adjusted flows + derivatives microstructure + defensible coverage across 200+ assets). (docs.glassnode.com)
Bitquery: if you’re building internal risk models, GraphQL + streaming saves months compared to rolling your own indexers. (docs.bitquery.io)
Forta + Defender: pair detection with automated mitigations; budget time for open-source transition. (forta.org)

Final word: assemble for outcomes, not features

For most startups and enterprises, the winning 2025 pattern is:

One primary compliance engine (Chainalysis or TRM), plus
One cross-asset/bridge-focused screener (often Elliptic) for second-source validation, plus
A growth analytics pair (Nansen + Arkham) and a data backbone (Bitquery or Dune Echo), plus
Forta + Defender for runtime detection and automated containment.

This stack handles the realities of modern crypto crime (mixers, bridges, L2s), the demands of GTM and investor relations, and the operational need to react in seconds—not hours. If you need help running scenario-driven bake-offs, designing Forta/Defender playbooks, or standing up a data backbone without over-hiring, 7Block Labs can accelerate the first 90 days and set you up for a calm, auditable 2026. (home.treasury.gov)

References (selected)

OFAC Sinbad designation (Nov 29, 2023). (home.treasury.gov)
Chainalysis KYT capabilities and coverage. (chainalysis.com)
TRM Labs coverage tiers and expansions; Beacon Network. (trmlabs.com)
Elliptic Holistic Screening, 50+ blockchains. (ellipticscreener.com)
Nansen chain coverage and recent additions. (docs.nansen.ai)
Arkham platform features and updates. (codex.arkm.com)
Dune 100-chain coverage. (dune.com)
Glassnode 2025 feature releases; entity-adjusted docs. (docs.glassnode.com)
Coin Metrics Network Data Pro coverage. (gitbook-docs.coinmetrics.io)
Bitquery API and products. (bitquery.io)
Crystal adds XDC for RWA analytics. (crystalintelligence.com)
Scorechain platform and coverage. (scorechain.com)
Forta + Defender integrations; Defender deprecation timeline. (forta.org)