Public Key

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How IRS-CI Follows The Crypto Dec 29, 2025

Show notes

In the last year alone, IRS-CI identified more than $10 billion in financial crime executed over 1400 warrants, seized hundreds of millions of dollars in assets and maintained one of the highest conviction rates in federal law enforcement.
But how do they amass these groundbreaking stats? In this episode, Matt Wilson (Director, Product Strategy, Chainalysis) speaks with Trevor McAleenan (Acting Supervisory Special Agent, IRS-CI) and he provides unique insights into the division's accomplishments and their recent Annual Report.

The team discusses the evolving landscape of financial crime as cryptocurrency becomes a significant player, while shedding light on huge cases, including Armenian narcotics networks, and Chinese nationals peddling fentanyl precursors. The discussion also touches on the future of crimefighting in the world of AI and cryptocurrency, emphasizing the agency's global partnerships and strategic innovations.

Minute-by-minute episode breakdown

2 | Inside IRS Criminal Investigations and Major Cryptocurrency Seizures

4 | Trevor McAleenan's Dynamic Career in IRS Criminal Investigation

7 | The Evolution of Cryptocurrency in Criminal Investigations

10 | Major Crypto Cases and Successes for IRS-CI

14 | Seizing Cryptocurrency: Challenges and Unexpected Discoveries

18 | Cracking Down on Darknet Drug Trafficking Through Cryptocurrency

23 | AI and Cryptocurrency in Modern Criminal Investigations

27 | IRS-CI's Global Impact and Career Opportunities

Related resources

Check out more resources provided by Chainalysis that perfectly complement this episode of the Public Key.

Speakers on today’s episode

Matt Wilson *Host* (Director, Product Strategy, Chainalysis)
Trevor McAleenan (Acting Supervisory Special Agent, IRS-CI)

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Our podcasts are for informational purposes only, and are not intended to provide legal, tax, financial, or investment advice. Listeners should consult their own advisors before making these types of decisions. Chainalysis has no responsibility or liability for any decision made or any other acts or omissions in connection with your use of this material.

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Unless stated otherwise, reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Chainalysis. 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 Chainalysis employees are those of the employees and do not necessarily reflect the views of the company.

The Reality of FATF's Asset Recovery Guidance Dec 08, 2025

Show notes

FATF has rolled out their most comprehensive guidance on asset recovery and the entire digital asset industry should take notice.
In this episode, Jim Lee (Global Head of Capacity Building, Chainalysis) talks with both, Aidan Larkin (Co-Founder & CEO, Asset Reality) and Hugo Hoyland (Chief Strategy Officer, Asset Reality) and leverages their transformative experiences and efforts toward developing efficient solutions for managing seized digital assets.
They outline the significant challenges faced by investigators globally, they are spearheading efforts to streamline asset recovery processes through innovative platforms like Asset Reality and highlighting the best practices mentioned by the renewed focus from international bodies like the FATF in their guidance
The trio discuss the importance of public private partnerships to bridge knowledge gaps and coordinate cross border recovery operations effectively and highlight partnerships with Operation Shamrock and the critical role that swift and capable asset management plays in the modern fight against financial crime.

Minute-by-minute episode breakdown

2 | Challenges and Innovations in Global Asset Recovery

5 | FATF Guidance and Importance of Seizures and Forfeitures in Investigations

10 | Improving Global Asset Recovery Through Effective Management Practices

14 | Challenges and Strategies in Digital Asset Seizure and Management

19 | Solutions in Government Asset Seizure Management

25 | Importance of Public Private Partnerships in Law Enforcement

29 | Private Sector's Role in Asset Recovery and Law Enforcement

32 | Global Success in Digital Asset Seizures and Financial Crime Expertise

39 | Complexities of Crypto Asset Seizure and Forfeiture

43 | Government Strategies for Liquidating Digital and Physical Assets

46 | Improving Global Asset Recovery and Standardizing Seized Asset Data

51 | Operation Shamrock and Asset Recovery in Crypto Investigations

Related resources

Check out more resources provided by Chainalysis that perfectly complement this episode of the Public Key.

Speakers on today’s episode

Jim Lee ** Host** (Global Head of Capacity Building, Chainalysis)
Aidan Larkin (Co-Founder & CEO, Asset Reality)
Hugo Hoyland (Chief Strategy Officer, Asset Reality)

Crypto National Security and Pig Butchering Nov 12, 2025

Show notes

$15 Billion crypto seizures, SouthEast Asia scam compounds with thousands of victims and the life savings of hard working professionals being wiped out by transnational criminal organizations. In this episode, Andrew Fierman (Head of National Security Intelligence, Chainalysis) and Erin West (Founder, Operation Shamrock), don’t hold back in sharing the nuances of pig butchering, national security and everything to do with crypto sanctions and victim support.

Erin describes the comprehensive scam strategies and shares her perspective as she travels the world and investigates steps away from some of the biggest scam compounds the industry has ever seen.
Andrew emphasizes the enormous scale of financial operations linked to illicit activities, evidenced by the staggering figures tied to entities like Huione and Prince Group and the importance of cross-sector collaboration and proactive regulatory measures in mitigating these threats.
Through real-life anecdotes and expert analysis, the episode provides listeners with a deeper understanding of the complexities and ongoing efforts to combat transnational organized scam networks.

Minute-by-minute episode breakdown

2 | Introduction: Crypto Natsec and Pig Butchering

4 | Erin's Background in High Tech Crime

8 | Understanding Pig Butchering Scams

15 | Global Collaboration Against Organized Crime

18 | Gift Cards as a Money Laundering Tool

22 | Southeast Asia Scam Compounds

27 | Chen Zhi and Prince Group’s Sanction Analysis

30 | Practical Advice on How Anyone Can Combat Pig Butchering

33 | Closing Thoughts and Resources

Related resources

Check out more resources provided by Chainalysis that perfectly complement this episode of the Public Key.

Website: Operation Shamrock: Educate. Mobilize. Disrupt: Stopping Scams Together
Podcast: Stolen: A Podcast with Erin West
Article: The Pig Butchering Lifecycle: Organized criminals use a highly scripted process and human trafficking to get as much money as they can from individual victims.
Article: How scammers use crypto ATMs to launder millions from victims
Blog: DOJ Seizes $15 Billion in Bitcoin as U.S. and U.K. Target Massive Southeast Asian Crypto Scam Network
Blog: Five Key Takeaways from MSMT’s Report on North Korean Cyber Operations
YouTube: Chainalysis YouTube page
Twitter: Chainalysis Twitter: Building trust in blockchain

Speakers on today’s episode

Andrew Fierman (Head of National Security Intelligence, Chainalysis)
Erin West (Founder, Operation Shamrock)

FBI’s Murder-For-Hire Crypto Investigation Nov 03, 2025

Show notes

The murder-for-hire case of Ron Ilg, seems like it was pulled directly from a Netflix documentary, but this is a real life case involving cryptocurrency and multiple FBI agents. Beth Bisbee (Director Product Strategy, Chainalysis Government Solutions) leads the discussion with the Supervisory Special Agent, Forensic Analyst and Special Agent that were tasked with this complex and riveting case.
This FBI-led investigation involving a murder-for-hire case facilitated via the dark web, featuring cryptocurrency payments, seed phrases on sticky pads, guns, cash and biometric safes.

The team details their journey, from the initial tip-off involving a custody dispute and an alleged plot to harm a spouse, to navigating the complexities of tracing cryptocurrency on the blockchain. The discussion zeros in on how the newly created Virtual Currency Response Team played a critical role in unraveling this case by leveraging blockchain analysis despite the perpetrator's attempts to obfuscate transactions using mixers. With cooperative efforts involving international exchanges and Bitcoin ATMS.
This gripping discussion highlights how the FBI team unraveled the complexities of the case using modern investigative techniques involving blockchain forensic analysis and traditional detective methods combined to thwart a potentially tragic crime.

Minute-by-minute episode breakdown

2 | FBI Agents Entrance To Crypto By Using It To Investigate Darknet Markets

5 | Exploring the Murder-For-Hire Case of Ron Ilg

8 | Introduction of the Virtual Currency Response (VCR) Team

12 | Major Breakthrough in Case When Reconstituting Crypto Wallets

17 | Connecting Intelligence From Exchanges and Bitcoin ATMs

22 | Main Accelerants in the Case That Drove Huge Results

25 | Finding the Seed Phrase Safe at Ron’s House Changed Dynamic of Case

29 | Challenges and Hurdles That Arose During the Investigation

33 | The FBI Leverages Previous Murder-For-Hire Case in Investigation

35 | Analyzing Ron Ilg’s Plea Deal and Sentencing

37 | The Biggest Takeaways for the FBI in this Crypto Investigation

Related resources

Check out more resources provided by Chainalysis that perfectly complement this episode of the Public Key.

Speakers on today’s episode

Beth Bisbee (Director Product Strategy, Chainalysis Government Solutions)
Supervisory Special Agent (SSA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI))
Special Agent (SA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI))
Forensic Analyst, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI))

Crypto and Crime: Inside the FBI’s Virtual Assets Unit Oct 20, 2025

Show notes

The FBI created the Virtual Assets Unit to spearhead the agency’s efforts alongside a network of distributed experts to combat the misuse of digital currencies in criminal activity.
In this episode, Gurvais Grigg (former Chief Technology Officer, Global Public Sector, Chainalysis) gained insights from Patrick Wyman (Unit Chief - Virtual Assets Unit, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)) into the intricacies of the FBI's approach to managing and monitoring virtual assets.

Patrick Wyman shares insights from his extensive career focused on white-collar crimes and articulates the critical importance of fostering collaboration among personnel and divisions, highlighting the unit's journey from a segmented array of expertise to a cohesive force capable of tackling financial crimes across all investigative areas.
This episode dissects the FBI's innovative strategies to maintain efficiency and agility amidst the rapidly evolving virtual asset landscape, but also highlights the challenges the public sector has in staying ahead of the crypto criminals.

Minute-by-minute episode breakdown

2 | Patrick's Journey at the FBI and Leading the Virtual Assets Unit

5 | Exploring FBI's Approach to Virtual Assets and White Collar Crime

8 | FBI's Virtual Assets Unit Unifies Expertise Across Divisions

12 | Enhancing Crypto Literacy and Leadership Engagement in the FBI

15 | Emerging Threat Typologies in Crypto Crime

19 | Managing Expertise and Resources in a Dynamic Environment

24 | Seizing Crypto Assets to Disrupt International Criminal Activities

29 | Challenges and Future of Cryptocurrency in Law Enforcement

33 | Building Sustainable Programs Through Strategic Planning and Growth

Related resources

Check out more resources provided by Chainalysis that perfectly complement this episode of the Public Key.

Speakers on today’s episode

Gurvais Grigg (former Chief Technology Officer, Global Public Sector, Chainalysis)
Patrick Wyman (Unit Chief - Virtual Assets Unit, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI))

Inside the FBI: Crypto, Crime and National Security Oct 06, 2025

Show notes

With over a decade of experience, James Barnacle (Deputy Assistant Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)) joins Jonathan Levin (CEO & Co-founder, Chainalysis) for a deep dive into the nexus of cybercrime, cryptocurrency and the evolving challenges faced by law enforcement.

James shares insights into the history and progression of the FBI’s strategies in combating cryptocurrency-enabled crimes, shedding light on intricate cases involving ransomware, fraud, and terrorism financing.

This conversation goes in depth on the FBI’s approach to multi-agency cooperation, including the establishment of the Virtual Assets Unit and response teams across field offices and the importance of victim reporting when it comes to pig butchering and other crypto investment schemes.
This is an episode you won’t forget.

Minute-by-minute episode breakdown

2 | Background of James Barnacle

4 | Beginning of the FBI's Involvement with Cryptocurrency

7 | The Evolution of Cryptocurrency Use in Criminal Investigations

10 | Establishment of the Virtual Assets Unit in the FBI

14 | FBI’s Approach to Ransomware Investigations

20 | International Private Sector Collaboration and Strategy in Fraud Cases

25 | Addressing Elderly Fraud and Pig Butchering

31 | Impact of Sanctions on Fraud Prevention

37 | North Korea's Involvement in Cryptocurrency Theft

40 | Importance of AI and Machine Learning in Law Enforcement

48 | Encouragement for Public and Private Sector Cooperation

Related resources

Check out more resources provided by Chainalysis that perfectly complement this episode of the Public Key.

Speakers on today’s episode

Jonathan Levin (CEO & Co-founder, Chainalysis)
James Barnacle (Deputy Assistant Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI))

The Future of UK’s Cyber and Crypto Policing Sep 15, 2025

Show notes

The evolution of the cybercrime landscape in the UK has evolved rapidly and in this episode, Andrew Gould (Detective Chief Superintendent & Cybercrime Team Lead, National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC)) shares deep insights with Jim Lee (Global Head of Capacity Building, Chainalysis) on how the NPCC has built their capacity in handling crypto investigations.

Andrew explains how his cybercrime unit has orchestrated a collaborative national response towards cyber threats and ransomware attacks and the strategic approaches towards building and enhancing investigative capabilities.
He discloses how government funding and developing training programs were instrumental in empowering officers against cyber threats and establishing partnerships with the private sector, Chainalysis and international law enforcement has been a key to their success.

Minute-by-minute episode breakdown

2 | Early Days of UK Cybercrime and Bitcoin

5 | Role of the National Police Chiefs’ Council in the UK

8 | Building a National Capability in Cybercrime

12 | Combining Blockchain Data with Other Data Sets

15 | Partnerships with Private Sector and Future Vision of Law Enforcement Collaborations

18 | Challenges and Best Practices in Building Crypto Capacity In Law Enforcement

23 |Future of Crypto Investigations - Looking Toward 2030

25 | Seizing Crypto Criminal Proceeds to Finance Law Enforcement Capacity Building

Related resources

Check out more resources provided by Chainalysis that perfectly complement this episode of the Public Key.

Speakers on today’s episode

Jim Lee (Global Head of Capacity Building, Chainalysis)
Andrew Gould (Detective Chief Superintendent & Cybercrime Team Lead, National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC))

Digital Assets Transforming Finance in Singapore Aug 18, 2025

Show notes

Do you want to hear insights from one of the most innovative banks in Singapore? In this episode, Evy Theunis, the Head of Digital Assets, Institutional Banking Group at DBS Bank explains to Chengyi Ong (Head of Policy (APAC), Chainalysis) about the thriving presence of digital asset firms running their businesses out of Singapore
Evy also shares how DBS bank has made groundbreaking strides in digital assets including many strategic initiatives such as launching their own digital asset exchange, while emphasizing the importance of regulatory frameworks and technological advancement as pivotal factors in DBS’s foray into digital assets.

Evy and Chengyi also marvel over the evolution and maturity of the digital assets sector and dissect DBS Bank’s top-down approach to crypto trading, digital payments and the tokenization of traditional financial markets.

Minute-by-minute episode breakdown

2 | Evy’s Journey to DBS and Digital Assets

5 | Challenges and Opportunities in Digital Assets for a Bank

9 | DBS's Focus on Digital Assets Strategy

11 | DBS's Innovation and Role in Digital Asset Financial Products

15 | Key Components for Future Financial Infrastructure

19 | Increase Demand for Digital Assets by High Net Worth Customers

22 | Singapore as a Hub for Crypto Businesses and Regional Expansion

24 | The Monetary Authority of Singapore and Their Digital Asset Impact

27 | DBS's Future in Digital Assets

Related resources

Check out more resources provided by Chainalysis that perfectly complement this episode of the Public Key.

Speakers on today’s episode

Chengyi Ong (Head of Policy (APAC), Chainalysis)
Evy Theunis (Head of Digital Assets, Institutional Banking Group, DBS Bank)

The Rise of Rollups in Crypto Jul 21, 2025

Show notes

Rollups have been the go-to solution for scaling blockchains while being able to maintain the security properties and credible neutrality that blockchains like Ethereum, have really been come to known for.
In this episode, Andrew Huang (Founder, Conduit) shares some core insights with Brian Alapatt (Senior Solutions Architect, Chainalysis) about various crypto applications leveraging rollups to enhance their transactional prowess and customer engagement.

Andrew unpacks the concept of rollup technology and how it is used to support scalable and customizable blockchain applications, reminding the audience that they are quintessential in reducing blockchain transaction costs, thereby making platforms more accessible.
Andrew shares that through Conduit’s "rollup as a service" model, businesses, including fintech and traditional finance companies, can use private blockchains, vastly improving economic efficiency and innovation in the crypto landscape.

Minute-by-minute episode breakdown

2 | Andrew Huang's Journey to Founding Conduit and Crypto's Potential

4 | What Are Rollups and How Are They Helping to Scale Ethereum

9 | Advantages of Custom Blockchains for DeFi and High-Performance Apps

13 | Ethena and Their Synthetic Dollar and Yielding Stablecoin Rollup Using Conduit

17 | Ethereum Rollups: Scaling Challenges and Future Opportunities

20 | A Breakdown of BASE and The Future of Exchanges and Blockchain Rollups

23 | The Rise of Stablecoins in International Payments

26 | The Future of Crypto Scaling with Rollups and Customization

30 | Strategic Partnerships and Technology Stacks in Blockchain Development

Related resources

Check out more resources provided by Chainalysis that perfectly complement this episode of the Public Key.

Speakers on today’s episode

Brian Alapatt (Senior Solutions Architect, Chainalysis)
Andrew Huang (Founder, Conduit)

Japan: Early Adopters In Crypto Regulation Jun 30, 2025

Show notes

The Collapse of Mt. Gox put regulators around the world on notice that digital assets could no longer be ignored. There is no regulator that got that message loud and clear more than the Japan Financial Services Agency.
In today’s episode, Chengyi Ong, Head of Policy (APAC) at Chainalysis has an insightful discussion with Ryosuke Ushida (Chief FinTech Officer, Financial Services Agency of Japan) about the pioneering role their agency had in crypto regulation and how Japan was able to successfully strike a balance between innovation and risk mitigation.
Ryosuke shares the evolution of Japan's holistic digital asset strategy, involving cross-agency collaboration to seamlessly integrate regulatory and innovation goals.
He highlights stablecoin regulation, International harmonization of crypto policies and tackling security concerns stemming from cyber threats, while showcasing Japan's multifaceted approach to fintech and digital assets.

Minute-by-minute episode breakdown

2 | Ryosuke Ushida blockchain journey and leading innovation at JFSA

4 | The fall of Mt. Gox that lead to early adoption of crypto regulations in Japan

7 | The benefits and challenges of being an early regulator in digital assets

10 | Japan's self regulation and public private partnerships to scale compliance in crypto

14 | How Japan could leverage blockchain for cross-border payments and IP transfer

19 | Prioritizing consumer and national security in the wake of large crypto hacks

24 | Japan Fintech Week: A global gathering of innovation and networking

28 | Stablecoins, AI and global regulatory and financial crime challenges in crypto

33 | Crypto Trends: Overused words, regulatory priorities and fintech aspirations

Related resources

Check out more resources provided by Chainalysis that perfectly complement this episode of the Public Key.

Speakers on today’s episode

Chengyi Ong *host* (Head of Policy (APAC), Chainalysis)
Ryosuke Ushida (Chief FinTech Officer, Financial Services Agency of Japan)

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