Christopher Wong, a former FBI Supervisory Particular Agent and a number one determine within the company’s cryptocurrency investigations, has joined blockchain intelligence agency TRM Labs.
“Chris is not only one of the most talented and respected investigators in the world, he’s also an inspiring colleague who makes everyone around him better,” Ari Redbord, world head of coverage at TRM Labs, instructed CoinDesk. “He’s been a critical part of elite teams throughout his career, and now brings that same excellence to our mission at TRM.”
Throughout his ten years with the FBI, Wong labored on a number of the most high-stakes crypto crime circumstances to this point. He co-led the investigation into the 2016 Bitfinex hack, which resulted within the largest crypto seizure in U.S. historical past — $3.6 billion.
He additionally performed a central position in probing the $600 million Axie Infinity Ronin Bridge breach, which was linked to North Korea’s Lazarus Group. The assault prompted the primary U.S. sanctions on crypto mixing providers and helped redefine how U.S. companies reply to cyber threats involving crypto.
One in all Wong’s newest main circumstances with the FBI concerned monitoring $7.7 million in crypto tied to North Korea’s IT employee laundering schemes. His efforts revealed how operatives faked their identities to realize jobs within the world tech trade, then funneled earnings again to Pyongyang.
Wong is now becoming a member of TRM Labs as a world investigator, with the purpose of serving to disrupt felony crypto exercise.
“I’m wanting ahead to studying from Chris as he helps our shoppers and companions cease illicit actors from exploiting transformative applied sciences,” Redbord mentioned.
