Whether it is seizing restaurants, hotels, cars or Bitcoin, our guest, Joanna Summers, Chief Recovery Officer of Asset Reality, has done it all with over a decade of experience working in both the public and private sector on complex asset forfeitures.

In this episode, Ian Andrews (CMO at Chainalysis) speaks to Joanna about developing asset forfeiture programs for countries all over the world and working with the Asset Reality team on their new platform to streamline the asset seizure process.

Joanna shares her history at the US Marshal Service Asset Forfeiture Division and how cryptocurrency slowly started to play a bigger role in investigations and seizures, including major cases like Silk Road.

This episode was originally published on February 27, 2024 and we have recorded some recent updates from Joanna Summers on the latest crypto scams, FATF's 2025 asset recovery initiatives, and Asset Reality's exciting new training programs and partnerships.

Minute-by-minute episode breakdown

2 | The role of asset forfeiture and the process of seizing and selling complex assets

6 | Joanna's first encounter with cryptocurrency during 2013 Silk Road investigation

9 | Joining Asset Reality and helping countries improve their asset forfeiture programs

13 | The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) focus on global asset recovery

17 | The digital asset recovery procedures and importance of moving crypto quickly into law enforcement controlled wallets

20 | Updated: FATF’s asset recovery priorities for 2025

22 | The emergence of pig butchering scams and how to protect consumers

26 | Joanna’s role as an ambassador for the Association for Women in Crypto

29 | Updated: New Crypto Crimes including: address poisoning, typo squatting and clipboard hijacking

32 | Updated: Taxbit Partnership and crypto recovery outlook for 2025

Related resources

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

Website: The Future of Seized Assets: Asset Reality is the seized asset management platform
Publication: Amendments to the FATF Standards to Strengthen Global Asset Recovery
News: Asset Reality Integrates with Fireblocks for Digital Asset Custody
Partnership: Asset Reality and Taxbit Partner to Enhance Digital Asset Seizure and Management
Website: The association for WOMEN IN CRYPTO learn. network. advocate.
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
YouTube: Chainalysis YouTube page
Twitter: Chainalysis Twitter: Building trust in blockchain
Tik Tok: Building trust in #blockchains among people, businesses, and governments.
Telegram: Chainalysis on Telegram

Speakers on today’s episode

Ian Andrews * Host * (Chief Marketing Officer, Chainalysis)
Joanna Summers (Chief Recovery Officer, Asset Reality)

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