A look back at 2025: On the front lines of the digital frontier

At BlockchainUnmasked, we spent 2025 fighting crypto crime and empowering Law Enforcement and legal teams with the tools they need to bring justice.

We’ve officially rung in the new year, bringing with it all of the planning, resolutions, and optimism that comes along with it. But before we get too far into the year, we’re taking a moment to reflect on 2025. 

Last year was a watershed moment for the crypto industry. With Bitcoin shattering records at $125,000 and regulatory green-lights, the digital spotlight on crypto has never been brighter. But with this intense focus came an evolution in complexity and risk. As the market matured, so did the sophistication of bad actors, from wrench attacks to massive recovery scams.

At BlockchainUnmasked, we spent 2025 standing at the front lines of this digital frontier. Fighting crypto crime and empowering Law Enforcement and legal teams with the tools they need to bring about justice. Through everything, our mission has remained: to unmask blockchain-based crime through relentless investigation, cutting-edge technology, and a victim-first approach to justice.

As we look back on our most impactful year to date, we are proud to share the milestones that define our journey from an investigation and forensics firm to a global pillar of blockchain integrity.

2025 by the numbers: Proven at scale

Impact is best measured by the lives changed and the assets secured. This year, our team moved from strength to strength, proving that transparency is the ultimate antidote to digital crime. 

• 16,000+ known victims assisted: Providing clarity and a path toward recovery for individuals globally.

• $1.4 billion investigated: Analyzing illicit flows across 20+ major federal investigations.

• Precedent-setting asset freezes: Successfully utilized civil process and novel forensic techniques to freeze assets onchain, creating a new legal roadmap for victim recovery.

• Expert testimony: Serving as the definitive voice in multiple class-action lawsuits and for the US State Attorney General office in high-profile lawsuits.

Global Alliances: Building a wall against illicit activity

In 2025, BlockchainUnmasked solidified its role as a key connective tissue between the private sector and global Law Enforcement. 

A cornerstone of this effort was our invitation to join the Illicit Virtual Asset Notification (IVAN) Public-Private Partnership. Working alongside government agencies and prominent crypto companies, we are now part of a rapid-response network designed to flag and neutralize threats in real-time. This was further bolstered by our membership in the Circle Alliance Program and our partnership with Deconflict, formerly VerifiWallet. These partnerships ensure that we remain poised to assist victims and fight crime at the onset. 

On the front lines with Law Enforcement

The core of our 2025 success lies in our deep, discreet work with US federal and international agencies. We have become a first call partner, receiving high-priority requests to solve cases that demand both speed and surgical precision. 

Notable victories include:

• Federal interventions: Successfully freezing and seizing illicit funds in high-stakes investigations.

• Completed multiple large-scale crypto fraud investigations totaling over $400M in losses, working alongside US federal Law Enforcement and regulatory partners.

• Legal breakthroughs: We brought about groundbreaking advances in crypto law, freezing assets, and civil process.

Our work was highlighted by Digital Asset News, which covered our collaborative efforts to combat two centralized exchange hacks, demonstrating that when the industry is attacked, we have the tools to strike back.

Exposing a new breed of crime

As crime evolves, so must our education. This year, our leadership team was at the forefront of identifying emerging threats. 

BlockchainUnmasked CEO David Richards was featured in a deep-dive interview with Decrypt, addressing the disturbing rise in wrench attacks (physical violence used to coerce private keys) following a tragic case involving a scammer in the UAE. In addition, our investigation featured in The Rage exposed the predatory nature of “Payback” recovery scams, where victims are targeted a second time by fraudulent services claiming to recover funds. 

We don’t just find the money; we expose the methods, helping the community stay one step ahead of criminals. 

Spotted on stage: Investing in the future

While we spend much of our time in the dark corners of the blockchain, 2025 saw BlockchainUnmasked take the main stage at some of the world’s most prestigious innovation forums:

• Global recognition: Named as finalists in the EDGE Abu Dhabi Police Challenge, showcasing our forensics tech to international security leaders.

• Innovation leaders: Finalists at the Arizona Innovation Challenge and features at Venture Madness and Venture Raise. 

• Community roots: We were proud to sponsor a six-week-long Devhouse Hackathon, fostering the Phoenix Tech movement and supporting the next generation of cybersecurity founders at Loloft Phoenix. 

A vision for 2026 and a message from CEO David Richards

As we begin the new year and look towards the future, there are a few key areas BlockchainUnmasked will be building out. These efforts will enhance our intelligence and investigative capabilities. 

Institutional and retail software

To date, our work has consisted of investigating and gathering intelligence on behalf of federal agencies, legal teams, and victims. This will always be at the heart of our business and our mission. Along with this tactical work, we’ve been quietly building institutional and retail software so that we can bring even more bad actors to justice. 

Counter-intelligence toolkit

Along with investigating crime once it’s been committed, it’s crucial for us to stop crime before it occurs. Over the next year we’re building counter-intelligence tools that Law Enforcement and government agencies can use to detect, track, and stop crime before it’s committed. These safety-barriers help create a more mature, safe ecosystem. 

Company growth and investigative capacities

Accomplishing everything on our roadmap is going to be no easy feat. But we’re undaunted and poised to bring on new team members to help us level up. That means we’re on the hunt for the best investigators and engineers in the business. Keep an eye on our careers page and LinkedIn for more. 

A victim compensation fund

As investigators, we see the real-world consequences and heartbreak that goes along with crypto crime. Life savings are gone in an instant. Food and rent unable to be paid. Bad actors have devastating effects on everyday people. We’ve always wanted to make a difference; help victims navigate that dark side of the industry and potentially recoup some of their lost funds. 

As we’ve seen more and more victims of crypto crime, we felt a calling to do more. Because even if we can recoup some funds, the process often takes months, sometimes years. That’s why we’re creating a victim compensation fund. This fund will help victims of crypto crime during that difficult time. So their life can stay on track while we investigate and bring criminals to justice.

A message from BlockchainUnmasked CEO David Richards

“2025 was the year we proved that the ‘Wild West’ of crypto can be tamed. We’ve moved beyond mere tracing; we are now setting legal precedents, freezing assets that were once thought unreachable, and providing the forensic bedrock for the world’s most significant trials. 

In 2026, our goal is to make unmasking synonymous with accountability. We are expanding our AI capabilities to predict illicit patterns before they result in victim loss. 

To the more than 16,000 victims we’ve helped: your resilience drives us. To the bad actors: the blockchain is permanent, and so is our pursuit.” - BlockchainUnmasked CEO, David Richards

Partner with the best

Whether you’re a Law Enforcement agency requiring rapid forensic support or a legal team seeking an expert witness to bring clarity to complex litigation, BlockchainUnmasked is ready to assist. 

Let’s stop crypto crime together. Book a consultation with our forensics team today. 

Stay connected with us on LinkedIn and X (Twitter) for real-time updates on the fight for a safer crypto community.