The Binance presentation back in March 2025 provided a structured overview of how cryptocurrencies intersect with cybercrime, along with actionable insights for law enforcement, covering several core areas.
1. Fraud and Scam Landscape: A focused overview of prevailing scam typologies, especially the rising trend of "pig butchering" scams – an emotionally manipulative and financially devastating scheme that lures victims into fraudulent crypto investments. Binance’s speaker detailed how these scams typically unfold, what digital footprints they leave behind, and how investigators can spot early indicators of deception.
2. Basic Cryptocurrency Concepts: To equip the officers with a foundational understanding of digital assets, the session covered key cryptocurrency concepts and principles. The presenter demystified crypto’s technical layers, providing a springboard for officers to confidently interpret crypto-related data as part of OSINT tasks.
3. Tracing Methodologies: Participants were introduced to core blockchain tracing techniques and learned how to follow the money in a decentralized environment. While remaining tool-agnostic, the presentation emphasized how investigators can leverage publicly available blockchain data to trace illicit funds, link wallet addresses to criminal behavior, and support financial intelligence efforts.
4. Real-World Case Studies: The presentation drew on actual cases that Binance has encountered through its investigative work, shedding light on how Binance collaborates with global law enforcement to detect, freeze, and disrupt criminal activities on-chain.
5. Requesting Binance Support: Law enforcement officers learned how to submit official requests for assistance to Binance’s Financial Investigations Unit, including the process, required documentation, and the kind of support Binance can provide, from case insights to emergency response.