Intro

With the Chainalysis 2025 Crypto Crime Report about to be released and the news about Bybit and the largest crypto hack in history, there is no better time than to discuss DPRK, sanctions evasion and the rise of crypto services used by illicit actors, including Huione Guarantee and Russian Instant Exchangers.

In this episode, we feature our own national security and intelligence experts at Chainalysis, Eitan Danon (Content Marketing Manager) and Andrew Fierman (Head of National Security Intelligence).

The duo acknowledges the emerging networks and alliances among nations like Russia, Iran, North Korea and China and how blockchain technology is transforming sanctions enforcement, citing examples like Hamas and North Korea.

The conversation also highlights Russia's legislative changes and cross-border transactions, while placing an important awareness of professionalization in the crypto crime ecosystem and the national security risks that the entire ecosystem faces.

2 | Sanctions and crypto and how to navigate geopolitical challenges

8 | Hamas and Al Qassam brigades use crypto donations for terrorist financing

11 | Emergence of Russian Instant Exchangers and Russian bank sanctions evasion

13 | Understanding “Secondary Sanctions” and how they apply to crypto 

19 | Crypto networks and alliances forming amongst Russia, Iran, North Korea and China

23 | How Iran and Russia are using crypto to move conduct crypto cross border payments

27 | Southeast Asia and the surge of crypto crime and pig butchering schemes

29 | Exposing the Huione Guarantee service provider and why they are at the heart of the massive crypto crime ecosystem 

Check out more resources provided by Chainalysis that perfectly complement this episode of the Public Key.

• Website: Chainalysis: Building Trust In Blockchains
• Report: The Chainalysis 2025 Crypto Crime Report (Reserve Your Copy Today)
• Blog: Iranians Flock to Crypto Amidst Geopolitical Tension; International Sanctions Actions Disrupt Russia’s War Machine
• Announcement: Chainalysis Integrates with Unichain
• Announcement: Welcoming Valentina Longo as Chief Financial Officer
• Blog: Russia’s Cryptocurrency Pivot: Legislated Sanctions Evasion
• Blog: OFAC Highlights Hundreds of Millions of Dollars in Cryptocurrency Transactions Related to IRGC-connected Houthi Financier Sa’id al-Jamal
• Report: The Chainalysis 2025 Crypto Crime Report (Reserve Your Copy Today)
• YouTube: Chainalysis YouTube page
• Twitter: Chainalysis Twitter: Building trust in blockchain

• Eitan Danon *Host*  (Content Marketing Manager, Chainalysis)
• Andrew Fierman (Head of National Security Intelligence, Chainalysis)

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