FBI's annual crypto crime forum gathers law enforcement and industry experts
FBI holds quiet annual gathering on crypto crime
The FBI has been quietly holding an annual conference called the Virtual Asset Technical Exchange, formerly known as the Virtual Currency Symposium. It brings together law enforcement officials, overseas investigators, and crypto-security specialists to share information on crimes involving digital assets, according to three previous attendees who spoke with CoinDesk.
This September's three-day event took place in San Antonio, Texas. Several hundred people attended, including law enforcement officials, compliance professionals, and crypto-security specialists, the attendees said.
What happens at the event
- The invitation-only symposium is capped at about 50 private-sector vendors and partners, with total attendance running into the hundreds.
- The program includes keynote speeches, panel discussions, fireside chats, and demo rooms where companies show their platforms.
- Discussions covered illicit use of virtual assets by cartels, terrorist financing, cyber-enabled fraud, scams, child sexual abuse material, human trafficking, and violent crime, including wrench attacks (physical attacks to force victims to hand over crypto).
- Attendees also examined emerging hacks, North Korean activity, and ways for industry and law enforcement to share intelligence.
Who attended
Attendees ranged from senior FBI officials and frontline investigators to representatives of other U.S. agencies and overseas law enforcement partners. Blockchain forensics firms, including Chainalysis and TRM Labs, are said to have attended. Nikhil Raghuveera, co-founder and CEO of Predicate, gave a presentation on stablecoin compliance and GENIUS. Representatives from the Security Alliance (SEAL) and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) also attended, according to the people who spoke.
The FBI and Chainalysis declined to comment. TRM confirmed attendance. Predicate acknowledged that its CEO presented at the conference.
Different from industry events
"This is not a crypto event," one attendee said. "It is a law enforcement event for law enforcement and the people they work with." The atmosphere differs from industry conferences, with discussions centered on illicit finance, national security, and investigations intended to produce arrests and asset seizures. Investigators discuss active threats, techniques for following funds, and successful cases, the person added.
What is confirmed and what is unclear
Confirmed facts: The conference exists, was held in September in San Antonio, and is now in its ninth year, according to repeat attendees. TRM confirmed attendance, and Predicate confirmed its CEO presented. The FBI and Chainalysis declined to comment.
Unclear: The exact number of attendees and specific details from the sessions are not confirmed, as attendees spoke on condition of anonymity.
Why it matters
The gathering highlights ongoing cooperation between law enforcement and the crypto industry to combat crimes involving digital assets, such as fraud, trafficking, and North Korean cyber activity. This collaboration is important for protecting users and the integrity of the crypto ecosystem.
Sources
Newisty Editorial Team covers technology, cryptocurrency, digital products, online platforms, developer tools and the wider digital economy. Our content is researched from official sources, company announcements, public documentation, market data and other primary or reputable sources. Articles are reviewed and edited before publication for clarity, accuracy and useful context.