“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.

Timestamps

01:00 - IRS's Expertise in Cybercrime and Asset Seizures

05:30 - Unveiling the Success Behind Major Investigations

07:00 - Revolutionizing Transactional Analysis with Blockchain Tools

11:30 - Collaborative Innovation in Cybercrime Investigations

13:30 - Evaluating FATF's Effectiveness in Asset Recovery

16:00 - Balancing Privacy and Crime Prevention

19:30 - Explaining Cryptocurrency Mixers and Blockchain Laundering

20:00 - Legitimate Uses of Cryptocurrency Amongst the Illicit Activity

25:30 - The Impact of Asset Seizure in Fighting Crime

30:00 - Law Enforcement and the Evolving Digital Landscape

33:00 - Fostering Resilience and Innovation

36:00 - Why Martial Arts Promotes Success in the Investigative Services

41:00 - Civil Forfeiture in Asset Recovery

44:00 - Validating Blockchain Analytics in Legal Judgments

Resources Mentioned:

• Jarod on the TRM Talks Podcast
• Samourai 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.

Disclaimer

Our 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.

“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.

Timestamps

02:30 - Networking and motivation through Ari’s running club

05:30 - Tackling the complexities of illicit finance and crypto recovery

10:00 - Libra's impact on global regulatory conversations

14:30 - Understanding cryptocurrency's regulatory challenges

21:30 - The normalization of crypto technology

30:00 - Cryptocurrency's role in modern asset recovery investigations

35:33 - Balancing privacy, innovation and security in the digital age

46:45 - Combating scams and enhancing crypto asset recovery

50:45 - Ari’s advice for fighting crypto-enabled crimes

Resources Mentioned:

• TRM LEA Survey 23: 60% of investigations start w/o a crypto element
• TRM Talks Podcast
• TRM Weekly Roundup Newsletter
• TRM’s Illicit Crypto Economy Report 2023

About 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.

Disclaimer

Our 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.

“Crypto exposed every crack in an undereducated, underutilised system.”

In this episode, recorded on the 15th of February, Aidan and Amanda delve into the world of digital asset recovery, exploring the complexities of civil forfeiture and the use of cryptocurrency to finance terrorism.

Drawing from her extensive background in policy, enforcement and legal affairs, Amanda offers valuable insights into how these experiences have shaped her perspective on cryptocurrency and the future of decentralisation.

Their conversation also touches on why the significance of initiatives like the Association for Women in Cryptocurrency, as Amanda emphasizes the need to improve inclusivity and empowerment across the digital finance ecosystem.

Timestamps

02:00 | Amanda's background as a federal prosecutor

06:30 | Civil vs criminal burden of proof

09:30 | The pros and cons of non-conviction-based forfeiture

18:00 | Cryptocurrency exposes the flaws in the existing asset recovery system

25:00 | Crime and innovation on the path to development

31:00 | The importance of optics in targeting crypto terrorist financing

41:00 | Why we need an Association for Women in Cryptocurrency

43:30 | #UnmanelYourPanel and other advocacy initiatives

46:00 | The importance of male allies to improve inclusion for women

Resources Mentioned:

• WomeninCrypto.org
• Association for Women in Cryptocurrency on LinkedIn
• Association for Women in Cryptocurrency on Twitter (X)
• Women in Crypto Podcast: Decrypting Asset Recovery in Crypto with Joanna Summers

About our Guest:

Amanda Wick is a prominent figure in the world of cryptocurrency and digital finance with an extensive background in policy enforcement and legal affairs.

Having served as the Senior Investigative Counsel for the US House of Representatives, Senior Policy Advisor for the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and the Chief of Legal Affairs at Chainalysis, Amanda has been a driving force behind some of the key policies shaping our financial landscape.

As the founder of the Association for Women in Cryptocurrency, Amanda is dedicated to fostering inclusivity and empowerment within the digital finance ecosystem, championing initiatives like ‘UnManel Your Panel’ that aim to break down barriers and pave the way for a more diverse industry.

Disclaimer

Our 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.