I dont know how this is a big thing, yes crypto currencies are used for bad things as well as for good things. It is the same with FIAT, FIAT is used way more for laundering and bad things. Yu dont see news articles stating '' FIAT was used for such and such crime'' but for crypto it is suddenly big news
It is because new to the ears of most people when they tag bitcoin or crypto being used for criminal acts or funding. And this probably won't change even though bitcoin is started to become accepted and adopted by large institutions.
besides crypto is easier to trace so it is even better that criminals use crypto over fiat, they can be found more easily.
Easier or you mean harder?