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Crypto National Security and Pig Butchering

Nov 12, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Erin West, a seasoned prosecutor and founder of Operation Shamrock, dives into the dark world of pig butchering scams. She details her global investigations into massive scam compounds in Southeast Asia, revealing how thousands fall victim, losing their life savings. Alongside Andrew Fierman, they uncover the staggering $15 billion in crypto seizures, the role of gift cards in laundering, and the need for robust regulatory measures. Their insights shed light on the urgent need for public awareness and better safeguards against these evolving scams.
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INSIGHT

Pig Butchering Is An Ecosystem Problem

  • Pig butchering is a wide ecosystem involving victims, scammers, tech, compounds, trafficking, and finance.
  • Erin West and Andrew Fierman stress it is not just a crypto problem but a whole-of-society challenge.
ANECDOTE

Compound Cities Built For Scamming

  • Erin West described dormitory-style scam compounds guarded by men with AK-47s and concrete walls.
  • She observed entire newly built cities in Southeast Asia created solely to run large-scale scam operations.
INSIGHT

On-Chain Flows Match Physical Scale

  • On-chain activity mirrors physical scale: HuionPay saw nearly $100 billion inflows over four years.
  • The Prince Group and related actors moved volumes that warranted unprecedented enforcement actions.
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