Ep. 7: Chasing Criminals Across the Blockchain

“Crypto will be a piece in almost every investigation.” In this episode, Ari and Aidan explore the pivotal role of blockchain analytics in crime prevention. They delve into why traceable technologies like the blockchain appeal to both criminals and law enforcement agencies, shedding light on how mixing services can facilitate money laundering and examining the evolution of digital currency investigations using real-world examples like the Bitfinex hack. Ari shares insights from his experiences in both the public and private sectors, including his first encounter with investigating crypto-enabled crimes.Throughout the episode, they emphasize the importance of balancing financial transparency with individual privacy and advocate for increased education and resources to enable law enforcement agencies to effectively tackle crypto crimes. Timestamps02:30 - Networking and motivation through Ari’s running club05:30 - Tackling the complexities of illicit finance and crypto recovery10:00 - Libra's impact on global regulatory conversations14:30 - Understanding cryptocurrency's regulatory challenges21:30 - The normalization of crypto technology30:00 - Cryptocurrency's role in modern asset recovery investigations35:33 - Balancing privacy, innovation and security in the digital age46:45 - Combating scams and enhancing crypto asset recovery50:45 - Ari’s advice for fighting crypto-enabled crimesResources Mentioned:TRM LEA Survey 23: 60% of investigations start w/o a crypto element TRM Talks PodcastTRM Weekly Roundup NewsletterTRM’s Illicit Crypto Economy Report 2023About our Guest:Ari Redbord is the Global Head of Policy at blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs and the Vice-Chair of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission's Technology Advisory Committee (TAC), known for his insights on cryptocurrency policy.Prior to TRM, Ari served as the Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Columbia and the Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence at the US Treasury, where he regularly collaborated with teams from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FINCen) to investigate financial crimes involving cryptocurrency assets.DisclaimerOur podcasts are for informational purposes only.  They are not intended to provide legal, tax, financial, and/or investment advice. Listeners must consult their own advisors before making decisions on the topics discussed.  Asset Reality has no responsibility or liability for any decision made or any other acts or omissions in connection with your use of this material.The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by Asset Reality employees are those of the employees and do not necessarily reflect the views of the company. Asset Reality does not guarantee or warrant the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, suitability or validity of the information in any particular podcast and will not be responsible for any claim attributable to errors, omissions, or other inaccuracies of any part of such material. Unless stated otherwise, reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Asset Reality.