Ep. 8: The Lasting Impact of Asset Seizures

“The speed at which this happens is faster than anything we’ve seen before.”In this episode, Seize & Desist host Aidan Larkin is joined by Jarod Koopman, the Executive Director of Cyber and Forensic Services at IRS Criminal Investigations.As the only federal law enforcement agency to focus completely on fighting financial crimes, IRS Criminal Investigations has seized more digital assets than any other agency in the world. Aidan and Jarod discuss the secret to IRS-CI’s status as a world leader in digital currency investigations, the reliability of blockchain analytics data in court and the lasting impact of asset seizures on criminal behaviour.Jarod shares his thoughts on the legitimacy of cryptocurrency transactions, the necessary compliance guidelines, and the parallels between Brazilian jiu-jitsu and cryptocurrency investigations.Timestamps01:00 - IRS's Expertise in Cybercrime and Asset Seizures05:30 - Unveiling the Success Behind Major Investigations07:00 - Revolutionizing Transactional Analysis with Blockchain Tools11:30 - Collaborative Innovation in Cybercrime Investigations13:30 - Evaluating FATF's Effectiveness in Asset Recovery16:00 - Balancing Privacy and Crime Prevention19:30 - Explaining Cryptocurrency Mixers and Blockchain Laundering20:00 - Legitimate Uses of Cryptocurrency Amongst the Illicit Activity25:30 - The Impact of Asset Seizure in Fighting Crime30:00 - Law Enforcement and the Evolving Digital Landscape33:00 - Fostering Resilience and Innovation36:00 -  Why Martial Arts Promotes Success in the Investigative Services41:00 - Civil Forfeiture in Asset Recovery44:00 - Validating Blockchain Analytics in Legal JudgmentsResources Mentioned:Jarod on the TRM Talks PodcastSamourai Wallet Founders Arrested and Charged With Money Laundering IRS Criminal Investigations on LinkedIn About our Guest:Jarod Koopman is the Executive Director of Cyber and Forensic Services at IRS Criminal Investigations and a black belt in Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu.He joined the IRS directly after college, rising through the ranks to become the agency's first director of cybercrime. In this role, Jarod oversees all global operations involving cyber and forensic activities, including policy, procedures, budget and investigative services. He also oversees the operation of their new centralised Advanced Collaboration and Data Center (ACDC) which specialises in training and support for crypto compliance.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.