In this special episode of Seize & Desist, our host, Aidan Larkin, sits down with blockchain intelligence specialist, author and Asset Reality co-founder Nick Furneaux for a behind-the-scenes look at his second book, ‘There’s No Such Thing As Crypto Crime’, and the challenges of writing it over the last two years while balancing work, family, and building a house.

Nick shares his journey from leaving school at 16 with no qualifications to becoming one of the world’s foremost authorities in crypto investigations, having analyzed over $20 billion worth of crypto-related crime and trained thousands of investigators globally.

Aidan and Nick also discuss the growing challenges for law enforcement, the role of AI in fighting scams, the rise of organised crypto crime, and why education and better training are essential for tackling the evolving world of cryptocurrency.

Timestamps

02:00 - Nick’s background

06:00 - Nick’s first experience with crypto

14:00 - Lessons from Yap Island: How Public Ledgers Work

16:00 - Why investigators must understand crypto

18:00 - Why so many scams use cryptocurrency

25:00 - Understanding the appeal of Bitcoin ATMs

33:00 - The challenges presented by AI

38:30 - Building a future of accessible crypto education

Resources Mentioned

About our Guest

Nick Furneaux is a leading blockchain intelligence specialist with over 20 years of experience in computer security and forensics. He is the author of ‘Investigating Cryptocurrencies’ (2018) and ‘There’s No Such Thing As Crypto Crime’ (2024), the only books focused on investigating crypto-related criminal activity. Nick also serves as a Blockchain Intelligence Expert at TRM Labs and is the co-founder of Asset Reality.

Over the course of his career, Nick has contributed to high-profile investigations in fraud, murder, terrorism, and child protection, focusing on live data acquisition, volatile data analysis, and the role of cryptocurrency in criminal activity.

A sought-after speaker at global conferences such as SOCEX and ACFE, Nick regularly provides training to governments, law enforcement, and corporations worldwide on advanced forensic techniques.

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.

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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.

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Ep. 17: There's No Such Thing As Crypto Crime