Public Key

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The Chainalysis 2025 Crypto Crime Report Preview (Part 2) Mar 31, 2025

Show notes

Darknet Markets, North Korean hackers, scams and ransomware. We cover it all in part 2 of our exclusive Crypto Crime Report edition of Public Key.
In this episode, Eitan Danon (Content Marketing Manager, Chainalysis) speaks with Eric Jardine (Cybercrimes Research Lead, Chainalysis), who helps us unpack what is new, the same and what surprised him in this year’s report.

Eric provides a nuanced analysis of illicit activities involving cryptocurrency and how they have shifted over the past year and explains the increased diversification and professionalization in the crypto crime space, painting a comprehensive picture of the challenges facing law enforcement and the compliance sector.

They both describe the shift in cryptocurrency usage from Bitcoin to stablecoins and altcoins and the impact of real-world events correlated with on-chain behavior and how these crypto crimes are mirroring geopolitical tensions.

Minute-by-minute episode breakdown

2 | Crypto crime diversification and illicit activity trends

4 | What cryptocurrencies are illicit actors using most?

9 | Surprising illicit activity that has emerged in crypto and digital assets

13 |Unexpected trends in stolen funds and ransomware activity

21 | Enhancing crime detection with signals and evidentiary data

26 | Predicting darknet market trends amidst crypto crime dynamics

30 | How Tornado Cash being delisted and Garantex being shutdown will impact 2025 stats

33 | Favorite sections of Crypto Crime Reports - Past and Present

Related resources

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

Report: The Chainalysis 2025 Crypto Crime Report (Download Your Copy Today)
Conference: Chainalysis Links NYC (April 1 & 2, 2025) * Get Tickets Now!
Blog: International Action Dismantles Notorious Russian Crypto Exchange Garantex
Blog: Cryptocurrency’s Role in the Global Fentanyl Trade Offers Opportunities for Disruption
News: Chainalysis Integrates With Ink
YouTube: Chainalysis YouTube page
Twitter: Chainalysis Twitter: Building trust in blockchain
Telegram: Chainalysis on Telegram

Speakers on today’s episode

Eitan Danon *Host* (Content Marketing Manager, Chainalysis)
Eric Jardine (Cybercrimes Research Lead, Chainalysis)

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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.

Chainalysis 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 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.

Why Europe's DORA Could Change Crypto Landscape Mar 24, 2025

Show notes

Will DORA regulation Change the way Financial Institutions and Crypto Assert Service Providers utilize technology providers like Fireblocks?
In this riveting episode, Matthias Bauer-Langgartner (Head of Policy Europe, Chainalysis) sits down with Jason Allegrante (Chief Legal & Compliance Officer, Fireblocks), to answer this question and to demystify the intricacies of the EU's Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) and its implications on the digital asset space.
The duo navigate through regulatory frameworks and assess how the recent Bybit hack becomes a poignant example demonstrating the urgent need for operational resilience and improved cybersecurity protocols in the industry.
Jason leverages his public sector and traditional financial legal acumen to cover the challenges and opportunities presented by DORA and the need for a global standard when it comes to material business matters in crypto, highlighting custody technology.

Minute-by-minute episode breakdown

2 | Jason’s transition from public sector and traditional legal to digital asset frameworks

4 | Fireblocks: Secure and flexible digital asset custody platform

7 | Could Bybit Hack have been avoided using Fireblock’s technology?

12 | DORA's Impact on technology providers, CASPs and financial institutions

19 | Challenges and strategies for DORA Compliance in Financial Services

24 | Navigating MiCAand DORA compliance challenges for EU crypto service providers

30 | Will DORA raise standards or stifle innovation?

33 | Challenges of regulating DeFi within traditional financial frameworks

37 | Global regulatory shifts in cybersecurity and digital assets with the USA taking the lead?

Related resources

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

Speakers on today’s episode

Matthias Bauer-Langgartner *Host* (Head of Policy Europe, Chainalysis)
Jason Allegrante (Chief Legal & Compliance Officer, Fireblocks)

Crypto's Role in Global Sanctions and Trade Mar 17, 2025

Show notes

Have you heard terms like Economic Statecraft, Jurisdictional Arbitrage or Axis of Evasion and wondered what they meant or how they applied to cryptocurrency and sanctions?
Well, in this episode,Eitan Danon (Content Marketing Manager Chainalysis) demystifies these terms and their impact on the global economy with guest Kimberly Donovan (Director, Economic Statecraft Initiative, Atlantic Council).
She examines the evolving landscape of blockchain, sanctions, and global finance and explains her journey from the federal government to becoming a leading voice in national security and digital currencies.
She explains how cryptocurrency is being used at a global scale, particularly among countries under sanction and dives deep into the research behind the "axis of evasion," highlighting the increasing use of blockchain to circumvent international sanctions.
Kim also underscores the importance of AML and CFT to deter illicit actors from utilizing jurisdictional arbitrage and connecting their financial networks, which has been leading to weakened USA oversight and economic sanctioning powers.

Minute-by-minute episode breakdown

2 | Kim Donovan's journey From government to crypto regulation

4 | The Axis of Evasion: Crypto's role in sanctions evasion by Russia

9 | Crypto's impact on global trade and sanctions

15 | Blockchain analytics and the need for accessible compliance tools

20 | Sanctions, alliances and global economic risks

23 | Cash is still king for terrorist financiers and illicit financial activities

27 | The Economic Statecraft Initiative and global financial inclusion

Related resources

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

Speakers on today’s episode

Eitan Danon *Host* (Content Marketing Manager Chainalysis)
Kimberly Donovan (Director, Economic Statecraft Initiative, Atlantic Council)

Borderless Banking: Navigating US Crypto Regulations Mar 10, 2025

Show notes

The US has been viewed as having a regulation by enforcement policy, but now they are focusing on becoming the leader of blockchain and stablecoin legislation.
In this episode,Eitan Danon (Content Marketing Manager Chainalysis) covers a lot of crypto regulatory ground, speaking with George Georgiades (General Counsel, Borderless.xyz) as they talk stablecoins, regulation and US digital asset policymaking.
George provides insights on the intrinsic value blockchain technology brings to the financial sector, specifically with stablecoins, highlighting their impact on global payment systems and the groundbreaking potential they hold for the future of finance.

He also provides an astute analysis of the evolving regulatory environment surrounding digital assets, emphasizing the need for clarity in legislation to foster innovation, while reflecting on the early days of blockchain exploration.

Minute-by-minute episode breakdown

2 | George’s journey working with traditional securities and entrance into crypto

4 | ICO’s, tokenized assets and balancing innovation and regulation

6 | How US Regulators could lead the world in crypto legislation

9 | The biggest lawsuits filed by the SEC including Coinbase and NFT Marketplaces

10 | [UPDATED] George summarizes recent lawsuits settled against crypto frims

12 | Borderless Labs and their mission to revolutionize global payments with stablecoins

17 |The future of stablecoin regulation and adoption

22 | Managing transactions speed and on-chain data in the modern world of payments

25 | Regulating celebrity endorsements and consumer protection in NFTs and memecoins

29 | Biggest predictions and breakthroughs in the digital asset industry in the USA

Related resources

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

Website: Borderless Labs: Empowering banking between traditional & emerging markets
Website: Borderless.xyz: Global rails powering stablecoin money movement companies
Article: Securities implications on "Hawk Tuah Girl" memecoin $HAWK
Interview: Preparing for a stablecoin regulatory push in 2025 with George Georgiades, General Counsel at Borderless.xyz
Report: The Chainalysis 2025 Crypto Crime Report (Download Your Copy Today)
Conference: Chainalysis Links NYC (April 1 & 2, 2025) ** Get Tickets Now !!!
Blog: Chainalysis Provides Automatic Token Support on Solana
YouTube: Chainalysis YouTube page
Twitter: Chainalysis Twitter: Building trust in blockchain
Telegram: Chainalysis on Telegram

Speakers on today’s episode

Eitan Danon *Host* (Content Marketing Manager Chainalysis)
George Georgiades (General Counsel, Borderless.xyz)

How AWS is Driving the AI and Digital Asset Revolution Mar 03, 2025

Show notes

You can’t go to a crypto conference in 2025 without a company or a speaker mentioning the convergence of AI and digital assets.
In this episode, Jason Somensatto (Head of North America Public Policy at Chainalysis) sits down with
Michael Greenwald (Global Head of Financial Innovation and Digital Assets, Amazon Web Services (AWS)) to dive into the intricate world where digital assets meet cloud infrastructure through AWS.
Michael shares his backstory working with the Department of Treasury and how that entered him into the world of decentralized finance and terrorist financing.
He discusses AWS's essential role in supporting the digital transformation in global finance, while also addressing the implementation challenges and potentials of generative AI in this evolving landscape.

Michael outlines the critical transition from legacy financial systems to agile, cloud-enhanced infrastructures, which is imperative for economic competitiveness and highlights the commitment of AWS in enhancing digital asset scalability, cybersecurity, and collaborations with public and private sector.

Minute-by-minute episode breakdown

2 | Amazon AWS's Role in crypto and digital assets

4 | From Treasury to AWS: Michael’s journey through finance and technology

8 | The intersection of AI and digital assets in finance and cloud computing

14 | Enhancing blockchain security with AWS and Generative AI

19 | Collaboration between public and private sectors in digital assets

23 | AWS's role in the future of digital assets and global customer adoption

27 | What’s in store for AWS and their digital asset and AI journey

Related resources

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

Speakers on today’s episode

Jason Somensatto *Host* (Head of North America Public Policy, Chainalysis)
Michael Greenwald (Global Head of Financial Innovation and Digital Assets, Amazon Web Services (AWS))

The Chainalysis 2025 Crypto Crime Report Preview (Part 1) Feb 24, 2025

Show notes

With the Chainalysis 2025 Crypto Crime Report about to be released and the news about Bybit and the largest crypto hack in history, there is no better time than to discuss DPRK, sanctions evasion and the rise of crypto services used by illicit actors, including Huione Guarantee and Russian Instant Exchangers.
In this episode, we feature our own national security and intelligence experts at Chainalysis, Eitan Danon (Content Marketing Manager) and Andrew Fierman (Head of National Security Intelligence).
The duo acknowledges the emerging networks and alliances among nations like Russia, Iran, North Korea and China and how blockchain technology is transforming sanctions enforcement, citing examples like Hamas and North Korea.
The conversation also highlights Russia's legislative changes and cross-border transactions, while placing an important awareness of professionalization in the crypto crime ecosystem and the national security risks that the entire ecosystem faces.

Minute-by-minute episode breakdown

2 | Sanctions and crypto and how to navigate geopolitical challenges

8 | Hamas and Al Qassam brigades use crypto donations for terrorist financing

11 | Emergence of Russian Instant Exchangers and Russian bank sanctions evasion

13 | Understanding “Secondary Sanctions” and how they apply to crypto

19 | Crypto networks and alliances forming amongst Russia, Iran, North Korea and China

23 | How Iran and Russia are using crypto to move conduct crypto cross border payments

27 | Southeast Asia and the surge of crypto crime and pig butchering schemes

29 | Exposing the Huione Guarantee service provider and why they are at the heart of the massive crypto crime ecosystem

Related resources

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

Speakers on today’s episode

Eitan Danon *Host* (Content Marketing Manager, Chainalysis)
Andrew Fierman (Head of National Security Intelligence, Chainalysis)

Bridging The Public-Private Sector Gap in Crypto Feb 17, 2025

Show notes

“We should be able to dare criminals to use blockchain and cryptocurrency to conduct laundering. We should be able to dare them to launder on a public, unobscured ledger.” - Carole House

This is a powerful statement to start off one of the most anticipated episodes of the year with one of our national security experts at Chainalysis, Eitan Danon speaking with Former White House National Security Council Special Advisor, Carole House.
Carole provides her unique experience working on both sides of the biggest public private partnerships when it comes to emerging technology, crypto regulation, and national security.
Carole explains the critical need for robust public-private partnerships to address the challenges of cybercrime and illicit finance and the importance of accountability and transparent standards in enhancing blockchain trust and security globally.
They even found time to discuss promising intersections of artificial intelligence with blockchain, emphasizing AI's potential in scaling compliance and cybersecurity initiatives.

Minute-by-minute episode breakdown

2 | From Army officer to crypto regulator: Carole House's journey
5 | Bridging gaps between government and crypto industry partnerships
11 | National security threats in the cryptocurrency ecosystem
16 | Global efforts and challenges in combating ransomware threats
22 | Building trust and accountability in the blockchain ecosystem
27 | Harnessing AI to combat cybercrime and enhance digital asset cybersecurity
32 | Public-private partnerships and digital identity in crypto sector
37 | The future of the digital economy and crypto

Related resources

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

Speakers on today’s episode

Eitan Danon *Host* (Content Marketing Manager, Chainalysis)
Carole House (Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council)

The Scamdemic: New Age of Crypto, AI and Fraud: Feb 10, 2025

Show notes

A Scamdemic is something we could have never imagined, but with the evolution of blockchain, crypto and AI we are right in the middle of the new age of fraud.
The best people to share what is at the heart of this systematic shift by criminals into the world of web3 are Caitlin Barnett (Director of Regulation & Compliance, Chainalysis) and Trisha Kothari (CEO & Founder, Unit21).
Trisha shares her journey from a Google intern to leading a successful Regtech startup that is at the intersection of AI and fraud prevention.
The duo explore strategies from tech giants, the rise of AI in financial fraud and the increasing prevalence of scams in the crypto industry.
Trisha shares Unit21's innovative approaches to data monitoring, fraud detection and leveraging AI to enhance compliance, while highlighting the challenges and innovations in fraud prevention and the focus on mission-driven solutions to combat financial crime.

Minute-by-minute episode breakdown

2 | Trisha’s early experimentation experience as an intern at Google

4 | The current state of fraud and the acceleration of it using AI

6 | Fraud detection and prevention in crypto and financial sectors

11 | $25 Million deepfake scam on hedge fund using AI

14 | How AI is changing the future of fraud and compliance work

17 | Traditional KYC is dead!

20 | Is 2025 the year of the SCAMDEMIC?

23 | Reducing false positives in fraud detection with AI

25 | Entrepreneurship, mission-driven work and building a team at Unit21

27 | AI integrations to combat elderly fraud

Related resources

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

Speakers on today’s episode

Caitlin Barnett *Host* (Director of Regulation & Compliance, Chainalysis)
Trisha Kothari (CEO & Founder, Unit21)

Top Crypto Predictions For 2025 Feb 03, 2025

Show notes

Solana, AI agents, predictions markets and memecoin culture. These are just some of the many predictions that anonymous crypto veteran, @redphonecrypto (Crypto and AI storyteller, Delphi Labs) shares with Bry, Senior Solutions Architect, Chainalysis) in what is one of the most jam packed episodes of 2025.

He shares insights from his industry leading theses including AI's economic impact, Solana's retail trading resurgence and the potential mainstream integration of crypto by tech giants.

He also provides predictions on decentralized networks, LLM-powered apps, the evolution of prediction markets and the emergence of memecoin culture that has shocked the industry.
The duo also explore decentralized science, gaming, and the concept of web4 and its potential to eclipse web3. A must-listen for crypto enthusiasts and those curious about the future of finance and technology.

Minute-by-minute episode breakdown

2 |The anonymity and security concerns in the crypto world

4 | Delphi Labs and the emergence of crypto and AI projects

8 | Crypto's mainstream integration and Solana's retail trading surge

14 | Predictions for 2025: The rise of LLM-based agents and prediction markets

24 | The future of tokenized assets and decentralized finance

30 | DePIN revolutionizing infrastructure, science and gaming

37 | X (twitter) announces new payment partnership with Visa

40 | Memecoins and AI-driven attention markets

45 | The evolution of crypto from memecoins to institutional investment

48 | Bitcoin DeFi and the emergence of ordinals

50 | DeepSeek, AI and the future of crypto and blockchain

Related resources

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

Speakers on today’s episode

Bry *Host* (Senior Solutions Architect, Chainalysis)
@redphonecrypto (Crypto and AI storyteller, Delphi Labs)

What You Need To Know About Crypto and National Security Jan 27, 2025

Show notes

Cryptocurrency has woven its way into the tapestry of geopolitical tensions, the evolving landscape of national security and the future of strategic policy making

In this engaging episode, Eitan Danon, Content Marketing Manager at Chainalysis, talks about China, Russia and all things national security with Matthew Pines, Director, Security Advisory at SentinelOne, as they demystify the global tensions and cybersecurity implications.

The conversation covers the intersection of Bitcoin and AI, the strategic implications for U.S.-China relations, and the evolving cyber landscape, including cyber deterrence and private sector responsibilities.
With insights into national reserves, the role of stablecoin, and even discussions on UAPs and non-human intelligence, this episode has never ending twists landing on global power dynamics and emerging technologies shaping the future.

Minute-by-minute episode breakdown

2 | Matt’s journey through startups, government contracts and entrance into Bitcoin

4 | Exploring Bitcoin, AI, and geopolitics with the new Trump administration
7 | China's global influence through techno authoritarianism

11 | China's strategy for alternative financial systems and global influence

15 | Global financial interdependence and sanctions in geopolitical conflicts

22 | Cybersecurity challenges and strategic deterrence against China

27 | Factoring in Bitcoin in geopolitical strategy and National Security discussions

33 | Strategic implications of potential Bitcoin reserve and global stablecoin usage

41 | Expectation Value: Matt’s book decrypting AI, and espionage activity in a novel world

43 | UAPs, non-human intelligence, and geopolitical implications for 2025

Related resources

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

Website: SentinelOne: World-Leading Cybersecurity. Powered by AI
Article: A “Global Economic Reordering:” US-China Competition and Bitcoin as Tool of US Statecraft
Article: Great Power Network Competition & Bitcoin
Book: Expectation Value
Blog: 2025 Crypto Crime Report Preview: $2.2 Billion Stolen from Crypto Platforms in 2024, but Hacked Volumes Stagnate Toward Year-End as DPRK Slows Activity Post-July
Blog: Illicit Volumes Portend Record Year as On-Chain Crime Becomes Increasingly Diverse and Professionalized
Blog: Sui Foundation and Chainalysis Collaborate to Enhance On-Chain Compliance
YouTube: Chainalysis YouTube page
Twitter: Chainalysis Twitter: Building trust in blockchain

Speakers on today’s episode

Eitan Danon **Host** (Content Marketing Manager, Chainalysis)
Matthew Pines (Director, Security Advisory, SentinelOne)

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