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

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Speakers on today’s episode

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

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The Chainalysis 2025 Crypto Crime Report Preview (Part 1)