Public Key Chainalysis

“You might think it's risky now to enter crypto. But I can promise you that time is going to flip very quickly where it's going to be risky not to enter crypto” - Farzam Ehsani Capital controls and Government bans have always made launching a crypto exchange in Africa challenging and in this episode, Ian Andrews (CMO, Chainalysis) sits down with Farzam Ehsani (Co-founder and CEO, VALR), who discusses the journey of South Africa's largest cryptocurrency exchange,from the company's inception in 2018 to securing multiple global licenses. Farzam shares insights on financial sovereignty, regulatory challenges, and the evolving crypto landscape, while reflecting on transitioning from banking to crypto and underscores the importance of integrity and choice in finance. He announces The VALR Grand Slam trading competition, where there is a $60 Million USDT prize pool and  looks forward to  expanding VALR's global footprint and making cryptocurrencies more accessible through innovative financial solutions.
Minute-by-minute episode breakdown
2 | Farzam’s introduction to Bitcoin and how it helped him understand the traditional finance ecosystem  
4 | The balance of self sovereignty and acting as a custodial crypto exchange 
7 | How traditional banks decided to move into crypto and the launch of VALR crypto exchange
15 | The rigorous process of obtaining licenses in multiple jurisdictions and adhering to international regulatory requirements and capital controls
25 | Understanding whether VALR is appealing to retail or institutional clients or both 
30 | Is VALR launching its own exchange token or security token?
33 | The challenges with listing tokens and keeping up with customer demand on memecoins  
36 | VALR raises $50 million in Africa’s largest ever crypto raise and even turned away investors
38 | VALR announces $60 Million Grand Slam of Trading Competitions
Related resources
Check out more resources provided by Chainalysis that perfectly complement this episode of the Public Key.
Website: VALR: Trade spot, margin, futures & OTC on the best crypto trading platform
Video: Adopting Bitcoin Cape Town Conference (Farzam Ehsani "Truth" Talk)
Article: Coindesk: The False Promise Blockchains Will Revolutionize Real-World Assets
Blog: Exploring Crypto Adoption in Africa: Growth and Barriers
Programme: VALR $60 Million Grand Slam of Trading Competitions
Blog: Cryptocurrency Penetrates Key Markets in Sub-Saharan Africa as an Inflation Mitigation and Trading Vehicle
Event: TraceDC (Early Bird Ticket Prices available until June 15, 2024)
Blog: Introduction to Zero-Knowledge Proofs
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) 
Farzam Ehsani (Co-founder and CEO, VALR)
This website may contain links to third-party sites that are not under the control of Chainalysis, Inc. or its affiliates (collectively “Chainalysis”). Access to such information does not imply association with, endorsement of, approval of, or recommendation by Chainalysis of the site or its operators, and Chainalysis is not responsible for the products, services, or other content hosted therein.
Our podcasts are for informational purposes only, and are not intended to provide legal, tax, financial, or investment advice. Listeners should consult their own advisors before making these types of decisions. Chainalysis has no responsibility or liability for any decision made or any other acts or omissions in connection with your use of this material.
Chainalysis does not guarantee or warrant the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, suitability or validity of the information in any particular podcast and will not be responsible for any claim attributable to errors, omissions, or other inaccuracies of any part of

When we started this podcast just over 2 years ago, Bitcoin ordinals and inscriptions weren’t even born yet and centralized crypto exchanges releasing their own wallets sounded like fanciful thinking at best.But here we are as these new and evolving technologies are leading the evolution of Bitcoin and the cryptocurrency industry at large. In this episode, Ian Andrews (CMO, Chainalysis) sits down with Jason Lau (Chief Innovation Officer, OKX) who shares his insights and observations from his recent global tour, where he attended conferences in New York, Paris, Dubai, and Brazil.
Jason highlights the growing momentum and enthusiasm in the crypto and Web3 space, as well as the importance of localizing products and services to cater to diverse user bases. Jason also discusses OK Group's focus on self-custody and the launch of their OKX wallet, which aims to empower users to explore the world of decentralized finance (DeFi). Additionally, he touches on OK Group's Layer 2 network (X Layer), their foray into inscriptions (NFTs on Bitcoin) with a new marketplace and their efforts to cater to institutional clients.
Minute-by-minute episode breakdown
2 | Global crypto enthusiasm and regulatory conversations from NYC, Dubai and Brazil
4 | OK Groups International expansion and broad customer base  
7 | Advancing transparency and self-custody in crypto exchanges and understanding the evolution of the proof of reserve audits 
11 | Embracing Web3 through user-friendly crypto wallets and building a L2 blockchain (X Layer)
16 | The evolving role of crypto exchanges and the impact of DeFi Regulation
22 | Exploring the impact of inscriptions on the Bitcoin network and whether NFTs are Dead
25 | Innovating institutional crypto trading and custody solutions 
28 | OKX's upcoming Web3 initiatives with McLaren F1 and Manchester City FC
 
Related resources
Check out more resources provided by Chainalysis that perfectly complement this episode of the Public Key.
Website: OKX: Faster, better, stronger than your average crypto exchange
Website: Ignite your creativity: X Layer is a ZK-powered layer 2 network
Article: About inscriptions and how they're shaping Web3's growth
Announcement: OKX has Teamed Up with McLaren Racing to Honor Senna's Legacy in Monaco
Blog: Chainalysis in Action: Illicit Residential Proxy Service Shut Down by Law Enforcement, Three Administrators Sanctioned by OFAC
Event: TraceDC (Early Bird Ticket Prices available until June 15, 2024)
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) 
Jason Lau (Chief Innovation Officer, OKX)
This website may contain links to third-party sites that are not under the control of Chainalysis, Inc. or its affiliates (collectively “Chainalysis”). Access to such information does not imply association with, endorsement of, approval of, or recommendation by Chainalysis of the site or its operators, and Chainalysis is not responsible for the products, services, or other content hosted therein.
Our podcasts are for informational purposes only, and are not intended to provide legal, tax, financial, or investment advice. Listeners should consult their own advisors before making these types of decisions. Chainalysis has no responsibility or liability for any decision made or any other acts or omissions in connection with your use of this material.
Chainalysis does not guarantee or warrant the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, suitability or validity of the information in any particular podcast and will not be responsible for any claim attributable to errors, omissions, or other inaccuracies of any part of such material. 
Unless stated otherwise, reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by

“We swore an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States… But nowhere in there does it say, 'Oh, except for the internet. We can't go into the internet realm or the crypto realm.” - Tony MooreCryptocurrency has always been unchartered territory for law enforcement all around the world, but the crypto-related crimes are too big to deny and in this episode, Ian Andrews (CMO, Chainalysis) sits down with Tony Moore (Deputy Sheriff, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department) who has been teaching the law enforcement community about Bitcoin since the early days.  
Tony shares his experiences investigating cases involving crypto, including social media parties, crypto ATM scams, pig butchering and SIM-swapping, while recognizing the challenges of staying ahead of criminals in the ever-evolving crypto landscape.
He reinforces the importance of reporting crimes, the challenges of cross-jurisdictional investigations, and the future of blockchain and AI.
Minute-by-minute episode breakdown
2 | Childhood dreams of Starsky & Hutch to joining Law Enforcement  
4 | Tony Describes his path into teaching other LEAs about internet and then crypto crimes
6 | Cracking Down on social media-advertised Nitrous Oxide (NOS) parties
10 | Early encounters with crypto in Law Enforcement
15 | Balancing cryptocurrency ATM regulation and innovation 
19 | Combating Sim-Swapping and Pig Butchering Scams while maintaining effective reporting
25 | Tackling crypto scams across jurisdictions and forging international policing partnerships 
28 | Master cryptoverse policing in Tony’s new 5 day course
34 | Embracing continuous learning in AI and the evolving crypto landscape
 
Related resources
Check out more resources provided by Chainalysis that perfectly complement this episode of the Public Key.
Website: The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
Website: Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): Nation’s central hub for reporting cyber crime, run by the FBI
Whitepaper: A Fistful of Bitcoins Characterizing Payments Among Men with No Names (Sarah Meiklejohn and others)
Interview: In conversation with the world’s first and only standalone virtual assets regulator: Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority
Blog: Crypto Mining Pools Overview: How They Work, Benefits, and Risks
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) 
Tony Moore (Deputy Sheriff, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department)
This website may contain links to third-party sites that are not under the control of Chainalysis, Inc. or its affiliates (collectively “Chainalysis”). Access to such information does not imply association with, endorsement of, approval of, or recommendation by Chainalysis of the site or its operators, and Chainalysis is not responsible for the products, services, or other content hosted therein.
Our podcasts are for informational purposes only, and are not intended to provide legal, tax, financial, or investment advice. Listeners should consult their own advisors before making these types of decisions. Chainalysis has no responsibility or liability for any decision made or any other acts or omissions in connection with your use of this material.
Chainalysis does not guarantee or warrant the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, suitability or validity of the information in any particular podcast and will not be responsible for any claim attributable to errors, omissions, or other inaccuracies of any part of such material. 
Unless stated otherwise, reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Chainalysis. 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

Fresh off the stage of the Links Conference,  Ian Andrews (CMO, Chainalysis) speaks to Andrew Davis (General Counsel, Kivu Consulting), who presented in front of a packed house and shared insights about new ransomware strategies and how companies can better protect themselves. Andrew discusses the evolving landscape of ransomware attacks and the challenges faced by victim organizations when deciding whether or not to make payment. He shares the wide spectrum of new typologies, including  cyber extortion and data theft and how the major exploits of pharmacy payment processors and oil pipelines has attracted law enforcement to take swift action against ransomware groups. Andrew also highlights the most common attack vectors and social engineering attack vectors, while presenting the new challenges that AI will have on deep fakes and image/video modifications used by ransomware attackers. 
Minute-by-minute episode breakdown
2 | Overflowing Interest in Cybersecurity at Chainalysis Links Conference 2024  
4 | Rise in cyber extortion and data theft and strategies for handling ransomware attacks
8 | Negotiating ransomware demands and law enforcement dynamics 
12 | Strategies and sanctions risks in ransomware payment decisions
17 | Ransomware attack disrupts major pharmacy companies, oil pipelines and casinos
21 | Debating the ban on ransomware payments and understanding Initial Access Brokers (IACs)
23 | The perils of reused passwords, account breaches and sophisticated fake recruiting attack vectors
28 | The evolving threat of AI and its role in sophisticated ransom attacks
Related resources
Check out more resources provided by Chainalysis that perfectly complement this episode of the Public Key.
Website: Kivu: We fight cybercrime. We protect humanity
Article: Can Organizations Still Pay Ransomware Demands?
Article: Emerging Threat Alert: Drive-By-Compromise On The Rise As Gootloader Malware Exploits Seo Poisoning To Target Victims
Registration: Digital premiere of Links 2024 (NYC Main Stage Content and more - Register Now!)
Blog:  Understanding Crypto Drainers
Blog: Ransomware Payments Exceed $1 Billion in 2023, Hitting Record High After 2022 Decline
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) 
Andrew Davis (General Counsel, Kivu Consulting)
This website may contain links to third-party sites that are not under the control of Chainalysis, Inc. or its affiliates (collectively “Chainalysis”). Access to such information does not imply association with, endorsement of, approval of, or recommendation by Chainalysis of the site or its operators, and Chainalysis is not responsible for the products, services, or other content hosted therein.
Our podcasts are for informational purposes only, and are not intended to provide legal, tax, financial, or investment advice. Listeners should consult their own advisors before making these types of decisions. Chainalysis has no responsibility or liability for any decision made or any other acts or omissions in connection with your use of this material.
Chainalysis does not guarantee or warrant the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, suitability or validity of the information in any particular podcast and will not be responsible for any claim attributable to errors, omissions, or other inaccuracies of any part of such material. 
Unless stated otherwise, reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Chainalysis. 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 Chainalysis employees are those of the employees and do not necessarily reflect the views of t

"In a way, if you were a juror on this case, you got educated on cryptocurrency, terrorist financing, and also the Syrian Civil War." - Edward Burns
In this episode, Ian Andrews (CMO, Chainalysis) has a full house as he speaks to several key members of the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, including the District Attorney, Alvin Bragg, the Assistant District Attorney, Edward Burns and the Chief of the Counterterrorism Unit, David Stuart.  As well as Dan Heesemann, Intelligence Research Specialist at the NYPD. The team discusses a fascinating case involving cryptocurrency and terrorism financing and shares how they were able to uncover an individual sending money to a terrorist group in Syria and planning violent attacks on American soil. They walk through the challenges of presenting technical evidence in court and the surprising defense strategy used by the defendant. This gripping episode sheds light on the intersection of crime, cryptocurrency, and counterterrorism efforts and the persistence and collaboration law enforcement and the District Attorney’s office have to utilize in order to bring these criminals to justice. 
Minute-by-minute episode breakdown
2 | Background of the public sector guests and their entrance into cryptocurrency    
4 | The People  vs. Victoria Jacobs: The cryptocurrency terrorist financing case
9 | Unveiling the terrorist financier's intent and tactics
14 | The elusive Salman Belarusi: Operational security mastermind
18 | Simplifying cryptocurrency for jury understanding
20 | Terrorism, cryptocurrency and the Syrian Conflict
22 | Jury deliberates for hours and finds the defendant guilty on all counts 
25 | Manhattan DA, Alvin Bragg explains provides an update on sentencing and closure in case
Related resources
Check out more resources provided by Chainalysis that perfectly complement this episode of the Public Key.
Website: Manhattan District Attorney's Office: One Standard of Justice for All
Website: New York City Police Department (NYPD) is the largest and one of the oldest municipal police departments in the United States
Press Release: Victoria Jacobs Sentenced To 18 Years In Prison For Using Cryptocurrency To Fund Syrian-Based Terrorist Groups; Launder Supporters’ Contributions
Registration: Digital premiere of Links 2024 (NYC Main Stage Content and more - Register Now!)
Report -  Crypto Investigations: Blockchain Intelligence for Law Enforcement (Available Now)
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)
Alvin Bragg (District Attorney, Manhattan District Attorney's Office)
Edward Burns (Assistant District Attorney, Manhattan District Attorney's Office)
David Stuart (Chief of the Counterterrorism Unit, Manhattan District Attorney's Office)
Dan Heesemann (Intelligence Research Specialist, NYPD)
This website may contain links to third-party sites that are not under the control of Chainalysis, Inc. or its affiliates (collectively “Chainalysis”). Access to such information does not imply association with, endorsement of, approval of, or recommendation by Chainalysis of the site or its operators, and Chainalysis is not responsible for the products, services, or other content hosted therein.
Our podcasts are for informational purposes only, and are not intended to provide legal, tax, financial, or investment advice. Listeners should consult their own advisors before making these types of decisions. Chainalysis has no responsibility or liability for any decision made or any other acts or omissions in connection with your use of this material.
Chainalysis does not guarantee or warrant the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, suitability or validity of the information in any particular podcast and will not be responsible for

"I'm not excited for what blockchain and DLTs can bring to the banking ecosystem, but I'm more excited to see how working on the same technology will bring together different market players." - Mico Curatolo 
In this episode, Ian Andrews (CMO, Chainalysis) speaks to Mico Curatolo (Co-Head, DLT and Digital Assets Team) of Banca Sella, which is an established bank in Italy with a long history of innovation and cutting-edge technologies in the financial ecosystem. Mico discusses the bank's strategy around DLT and digital assets, including their focus on launching a proprietary retail custody solution.He explains the regulatory landscape with the implementation of MiCA and shares insights on the appetite for digital assets in Italy, the impact of the Bitcoin ETFs, and the future of stablecoins and CBDCs in Europe.
Minute-by-minute episode breakdown
2 | Exploring Banca Sella's traditional  legacy and digital asset and open banking ventures   
6 | The crypto and digital asset market and regulatory environment in Italy
8 | Banca Sella’s DLT, digital asset and custody strategy 
11 | Dissecting Bitcoin ETFs, stablecoin regulations and the future of bank partnerships
16 | What the future of CBDCs in Europe will look like
18 | Embracing digital assets and collaborative innovation in Europe
20 | Working on cutting edge technology and collaboration of industry players 
 
Related resources
Check out more resources provided by Chainalysis that perfectly complement this episode of the Public Key.
Website: Banca Sella: 140 Years in Banking and Leading Innovation
Website: Sellalab: Impact Innovation Platform for SMEs
Article: Increasing the Focus on Trade-Based Money Laundering
Article: Sella bank exposes itself to Web3 with a metaverse initiative
Registration: Digital premiere of Links 2024 (NYC Main Stage Content and more - Register Now!)
Blog - How To Use Blockchain Intelligence To Investigate Crypto Crime
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) 
Mico Curatolo (Co-Head, DLT and Digital Assets Team, Banca Sella)
This website may contain links to third-party sites that are not under the control of Chainalysis, Inc. or its affiliates (collectively “Chainalysis”). Access to such information does not imply association with, endorsement of, approval of, or recommendation by Chainalysis of the site or its operators, and Chainalysis is not responsible for the products, services, or other content hosted therein.
Our podcasts are for informational purposes only, and are not intended to provide legal, tax, financial, or investment advice. Listeners should consult their own advisors before making these types of decisions. Chainalysis has no responsibility or liability for any decision made or any other acts or omissions in connection with your use of this material.
Chainalysis does not guarantee or warrant the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, suitability or validity of the information in any particular podcast and will not be responsible for any claim attributable to errors, omissions, or other inaccuracies of any part of such material. 
Unless stated otherwise, reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Chainalysis. 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 Chainalysis employees are those of the employees and do not necessarily reflect the views of the company.