Beyond the volatility of crypto markets, blockchain technology is proving to be a powerful new tool to fight crime. And that is exactly what Gurvais Grigg, a former FBI special agent who now leads Chainalysis’s public sector efforts, demonstrates—how blockchain analysis is becoming law enforcement’s secret weapon against financial criminals.
Grigg’s years of experience in public sector cybersecurity and his position at Chainalysis have given him a deep understanding of how to use blockchain to combat illicit activities. Recently, he spoke about how this technology helps law enforcement agencies track criminals and prevent crimes.
From FBI Agent to Blockchain Expert: A New Path in Crime Fighting
Grigg’s move from the FBI to Chainalysis happened because of the rise of cryptocurrency and the need to give law enforcement the tools to combat crimes in this new financial system. During his 20 years at the FBI, Grigg saw how data and technology could help investigations.
But when cryptocurrency became popular among criminals, law enforcement did not have the infrastructure needed to track illicit transactions effectively. This led Grigg to join Chainalysis, a company that focuses on blockchain intelligence. At Chainalysis, Grigg collaborates with government agencies and law enforcement to provide the data and analytical tools needed to trace cryptocurrency transactions.
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Because blockchain is transparent and immutable, law enforcement can track the movement of digital assets across decentralized networks, which was not possible with traditional finance and cash-based systems. The ability to trace these transactions in real time helps investigators identify patterns and uncover illegal activities like money laundering, fraud, and ransomware attacks.
Grigg explained how cybercriminals, including state-sponsored actors and organized crime syndicates, have learned to exploit cryptocurrency. Because of decentralized finance (DeFi), criminals can now move funds across different blockchains, which lets them hide their activity through complex techniques. These methods make it hard to follow the money using traditional investigation methods.