Public Key Podcast

[CHAINALYSIS PODCAST EPISODE 12] Blockchain Investigations and Illicit Threats Emerging In Crypto Ecosystem

Episode 12 of Public Key, the Chainalysis podcast, is here! In this episode, we talk about tracing stolen cryptocurrency and complex blockchain investigations. 

You can listen or subscribe now on Spotify, Apple, or Audible. Keep reading for a full preview of episode 12

Public Key Episode 12 preview: Buying bitcoin off of Craiglist, Tracing stolen crypto and how illicit actors panic after OFAC sanctions

In this episode of Public Key, our host, Ian Andrews (CMO at Chainalysis) is joined live from New York City at the Chainalysis Links Conference by Erin Plante, who leads our Investigations and Special Projects team, and discusses the intricacies of complex blockchain investigations and quick responses to major platform hacks.

The conversation covers a wide range of topics, including the aftermath of a crypto exchange being sanctioned, DeFi platforms as the popular target for crypto theft, state sponsored attacks, and how we might improve consumer protection in Web3.

Quote of the episode

“There’s a sentiment from early days of crypto of Government is bad. Regulation is bad. Oversight is bad. Everything is decentralized and fully permissionless, but the downside of that is if funds are stolen or lost, you’ve got no help. You’ve got nowhere to turn.” Ian Andrews (Chief Marketing Officer, Chainalysis)

Minute-by-minute episode breakdown

  • (2:30) – Erin Plante’s origin story on buying bitcoin from strangers on craigslist 
  • (5:45) – Emerging trends in crypto crime and the evolution  from darknet payments to ransomware proceeds
  • (10:25) –OFAC’s increased action against high risk exchange’s obfuscation of proceeds of ransomware 
  • (14:15) –How public private partnerships are increasing the ability to recover stolen or hacked funds 
  • (15:45) –Weighing the pros and cons of decentralization and consumer protection 
  • (19:08) – Describing the panic after the first few hours after a cryptocurrency hack 
  • (22:32) – North Korea’s powerful hacker cells and international cyber warfare 
  • (23:50) –How Google and Chainalysis tackled botnet cybercrime including Glupteba malware

Related resources

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

  • Report:The Chainalysis State of Web3 Report (Reserve your copy – Coming June 2022)
  • Webinar: The State of Web: June 30, 2022 at 11am ET (with Ethan McMahon, Economist)
  • Blog: Meet the Malware Families Helping Hackers Steal and Mine Millions in Cryptocurrency
  • Blog: New Layer 1 Blockchains Are Expanding the DeFi Ecosystem But No Eth Killers Yet
  • Reply All Podcast :A podcast about the internet,  that is actually an unfailingly original exploration of modern life and how to survive it.
  • Company News: Introducing the Chainalysis Crypto Incident Response Program
  • Video: Chainalysis Links New York 2022 (Video Replays) 

Speakers on today’s episode

  • Ian Andrews * Host * (Chief Marketing Officer, Chainalysis) https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianhandrews
  • Erin Plante (Senior Director of Investigations, Chainalysis) https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinplante

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