Can crypto be traced?

Yes, crypto can be traced. However, it's not as easy as many people think. Each crypto transaction is essentially a random number paired with a public key. So, while it is possible to trace crypto transactions, it's not as simple as looking at a public ledger and seeing who sent what to whom. There are a number of ways to obfuscate or hide your transactions, so it's not easy for law enforcement or anyone else to track your activity. That said, cryptocurrency is not necessarily anonymous and should not be considered confidential information.