Odaily Planet Daily reports that Chainalysis has released a report stating that as the demand for gray market peptide products (like semaglutide weight loss drugs) surges, related suppliers and buyers are increasingly utilizing cryptocurrency for transactions, with top suppliers primarily relying on Bitcoin and stablecoins.

The report indicates that in Q1 2026, cryptocurrency inflows into this sector reached $32 million, a 159% increase from the previous quarter's $12 million, with an annualized scale exceeding $100 million.

Chainalysis points out that the demand for peptide products is driven by trends in medical aesthetics and health wellness, as well as the popularity of GLP-1 drugs. However, since these products often involve prescription-level compounds or unregulated substances, traditional banks and credit card processors typically restrict their transactions, pushing this market towards crypto payments.

The institution also noted that some leading suppliers have shown more specialized on-chain capital management methods. Especially among suppliers with an average deposit exceeding 1000 USD, the proportion of stablecoins has significantly increased, likely to mitigate the risks of large supply chain orders being affected by crypto market volatility.