A blockchain analysis from TRM Labs, published October 6, found that about three in four Chinese chemical vendors it tracked list both peptides and fentanyl precursors, with US buyers sending most of the traceable money. Nicholas walks through the numbers and their limits, the two peptides named in the report (Melanotan II and semaglutide), the FDA's August warning letters on "research use only" labels, and what it all means for anyone reading up on peptides.
In this episode
- 00:00 Theme, cold open and intro
- 00:48 Lead: the TRM Labs report
- 01:41 The limits of the data
- 02:08 Melanotan II
- 02:42 Semaglutide
- 03:02 "Research use only" isn't a shield
- 03:34 The policy debate
- 03:49 What this means for you
- 04:10 Wrap-up and Amino Club code
Peptides covered
Free tools
- Free reconstitution and dosing calculator: mypeps.info/calculator
Sources
- Americans Are Buying Peptides From the Same Chinese Chemical Vendors Selling Fentanyl Precursors: Sales Up 32% Since 2023 — TRM Labs, October 6, 2026. https://www.trmlabs.com/resources/blog/americans-are-buying-peptides-from-the-same-chinese-chemical-vendors-selling-fentanyl-precursors-sales-up-32-since-2023
- Americans paying for cheap online semaglutide may be sending money to vendors that also list fentanyl precursors — Medical Daily, October 8, 2026. https://medicaldaily.com/cheap-semaglutide-research-peptides-fentanyl-precursor-vendors-479725
- Warning letter: Peptide Partners LLC (MARCS-CMS 735063) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration, August 24, 2026. https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/peptide-partners-llc-735063-08242026
- Chinese fentanyl makers find new U.S. market in peptides — Axios, July 7, 2026. https://www.axios.com/2026/07/07/chinese-fentanyl-makers-pivot-peptides
- Copycat pharmacies and the peptide market — Independent Institute, October 6, 2026. https://independent.org/article/2026/10/06/copycat-pharmacies-peptide-compounding
Where we buy
Amino Club publishes an independent lab report (COA) for every lot; see them on our lab reports page. Their products are sold for research use only, not for human use: Amino Club research-use-only listing, 40% off with code MYPEPSINFO. This is an affiliate link, so we may earn a commission.
Educational information only, not medical advice. Talk to a licensed clinician before starting, stopping or changing any medication. Research-grade peptides are not FDA-approved drugs. Nicholas and Brock are AI-generated voices; every episode is reviewed by our editor, Ryan E., MS.