Ervin Zubic

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Ervin Zubic

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Decoding Meme Coin Chaos: Tracing the Masterminds Behind Crypto Pump-and-Dumps

PERSEUS exposes how masterminds manipulate meme coins in pump-and-dump schemes using AI and social networks like Telegram. The wild world of cryptocurrency is no stranger to chaos, speculation, and, unfortunately, manipulation. One of the most infamous tactics? The age-old “pump-and-dump” scheme — reimagined for the digital age. In their 2025 paper, “PERSEUS: Tracing the Masterminds Behind Cryptocurrency Pump-and-Dump Schemes,” authors Honglin Fu, Yebo Feng, Cong Wu, and Jiahua Xu go beyond m...

Ervin Zubic

Writing about blockchain security and blockchain forensics. Follow me on Twitter for the latest insights.

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Bitcoin Tracking for Law Enforcement — A Guide to Crypto Investigations

Learn the basics of Bitcoin transactions & tracking methods for law enforcement, including tools & techniques to enhance your investigations. This ACFCS contributor report, initially published on July 17, 2024, by the Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialists (ACFCS), includes editing and content contributions from Brian Monroe, ACFCS VP of Content.The skinny:In this article by longtime fincrime fighter Ervin Zubic, head of blockquiry, he offers a practical guide to help law enforc...

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Cryptocurrency Crime Explained (Part 1): A Guide for Financial Crime Investigators

Explore the intricacies of cryptocurrency-related financial crimes. Gain insights on detection, prevention, and compliance strategies for AML officers and FCC experts. Increased adoption of cryptocurrency has ushered in a new financial era. Its perceived decentralized nature, cryptographic security, and promise of anonymity have revolutionized transactions but also provided fertile ground for illicit activities. From its early association with the infamous Silk Road to the intricate money lau...

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Cryptocurrency Crime Explained (Part 2): A Guide for Financial Crime Investigators

Discover crypto-native money laundering, the importance of KYC/AML, and common scams. Essential insights for AML officers and FCC experts in part two of our series. As we journey deeper into the labyrinth of cryptocurrency crime, it becomes evident that the complexities and challenges extend far beyond initial perceptions. In part one, we navigated the tumultuous waters of cryptocurrency’s evolution and its exploitation for various illicit activities. Now, in part two, we delve into the intri...

Discover card cover image

Bitcoin Tracking for Law Enforcement — A Guide to Crypto Investigations

Learn the basics of Bitcoin transactions & tracking methods for law enforcement, including tools & techniques to enhance your investigations. This ACFCS contributor report, initially published on July 17, 2024, by the Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialists (ACFCS), includes editing and content contributions from Brian Monroe, ACFCS VP of Content.The skinny:In this article by longtime fincrime fighter Ervin Zubic, head of blockquiry, he offers a practical guide to help law enforc...

Discover card cover image

Cryptocurrency Crime Explained (Part 1): A Guide for Financial Crime Investigators

Explore the intricacies of cryptocurrency-related financial crimes. Gain insights on detection, prevention, and compliance strategies for AML officers and FCC experts. Increased adoption of cryptocurrency has ushered in a new financial era. Its perceived decentralized nature, cryptographic security, and promise of anonymity have revolutionized transactions but also provided fertile ground for illicit activities. From its early association with the infamous Silk Road to the intricate money lau...

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How Did the Telegram CEO Arrest Impact Illicit Crypto Activity on the Platform?

How has the arrest of Telegram’s CEO impacted illicit crypto activity? The answer may surprise you. Read on. In my Cryptocurrency Crime Explained article series, we discussed the shadowy world of dark net OTC brokers used for crypto-native money laundering, particularly spotlighting Chinese Over-the-Counter (OTC) brokers. These services, typically offered on the dark web and through apps like Telegram, have long provided a veil of secrecy for illicit transactions. https://mirror.xyz/ervinzubi...

Discover card cover image

Cryptocurrency Crime Explained (Part 2): A Guide for Financial Crime Investigators

Discover crypto-native money laundering, the importance of KYC/AML, and common scams. Essential insights for AML officers and FCC experts in part two of our series. As we journey deeper into the labyrinth of cryptocurrency crime, it becomes evident that the complexities and challenges extend far beyond initial perceptions. In part one, we navigated the tumultuous waters of cryptocurrency’s evolution and its exploitation for various illicit activities. Now, in part two, we delve into the intri...

Discover card cover image

How Did the Telegram CEO Arrest Impact Illicit Crypto Activity on the Platform?

How has the arrest of Telegram’s CEO impacted illicit crypto activity? The answer may surprise you. Read on. In my Cryptocurrency Crime Explained article series, we discussed the shadowy world of dark net OTC brokers used for crypto-native money laundering, particularly spotlighting Chinese Over-the-Counter (OTC) brokers. These services, typically offered on the dark web and through apps like Telegram, have long provided a veil of secrecy for illicit transactions. https://mirror.xyz/ervinzubi...

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Research Review: Illicit Finance Risk Assessment of Non-Fungible Tokens

The burgeoning world of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) has revolutionized the digital landscape, offering unique digital ownership and innovative financial opportunities. However, with these advancements come significant risks. The U.S. Department of the Treasury's report, "Illicit Finance Risk Assessment of Non-Fungible Tokens" (May 2024), delves into the vulnerabilities and illicit finance threats associated with NFTs, aligning with the Executive Order 14067 "Ensuring Responsible Developme...

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Mastering MetaSleuth: Your Practical Guide to Tracking Cryptocurrency on the Blockchain

Take your blockchain investigations to the next level! This hands-on guide will teach you how to use MetaSleuth to track crypto transactions, follow stolen funds, and expose money laundering schemes. This article is also published on my Medium page. In our initial article titled “Conduct Effective OSINT Investigations for Money Laundering & Sanctions,” we explored the foundations of creating a detailed profile of an individual of interest using tools like OpenSanctions and OpenCorporates. htt...

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Research Review: Illicit Finance Risk Assessment of Non-Fungible Tokens

The burgeoning world of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) has revolutionized the digital landscape, offering unique digital ownership and innovative financial opportunities. However, with these advancements come significant risks. The U.S. Department of the Treasury's report, "Illicit Finance Risk Assessment of Non-Fungible Tokens" (May 2024), delves into the vulnerabilities and illicit finance threats associated with NFTs, aligning with the Executive Order 14067 "Ensuring Responsible Developme...

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Can We Adapt YARA to Fight DeFi Attacks? A Lazarus Group Case Study Sparks the Question

The Lazarus Group's DeFi money laundering tactics raise a critical question: Can YARA, a tool known for malware detection, be modified to help us systematically identify and classify these attacks? This article is also published on my Medium page. Recently, I had the opportunity to delve into ZachXBT's article detailing the Lazarus Group's sophisticated techniques for laundering over $200 million through DeFi hacks. As I navigated through the myriad of methods and patterns high...

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Preempting DeFi Attacks: How to Identify Victim Addresses Before Losses Occur

New research reveals a way to predict victims of DeFi smart contract attacks before they happen. Learn how to safeguard your assets in this groundbreaking study. In the ever-changing realm of Decentralized Finance (DeFi), the integrity of smart contracts is crucial. The research paper, “Timely Identification of Victim Addresses in DeFi Attacks,” penned by Bahareh Parhizkari along with collaborators from the University of Luxembourg, ETH Zurich, and Quantstamp, Inc., delves into this issue. Pu...

Discover card cover image

Mastering MetaSleuth: Your Practical Guide to Tracking Cryptocurrency on the Blockchain

Take your blockchain investigations to the next level! This hands-on guide will teach you how to use MetaSleuth to track crypto transactions, follow stolen funds, and expose money laundering schemes. This article is also published on my Medium page. In our initial article titled “Conduct Effective OSINT Investigations for Money Laundering & Sanctions,” we explored the foundations of creating a detailed profile of an individual of interest using tools like OpenSanctions and OpenCorporates. htt...

Discover card cover image

How a Few Characters Could Cost You Your Crypto: The Address Poisoning Threat

Address poisoning is a rising threat in the crypto world. Learn how these scams work, the different types of attacks, and how to protect your digital assets from falling into the wrong hands. This article is also published on my Medium page. Crypto has definitely shaken things up in the finance world, no doubt about it. The whole decentralized, secure, transparent way of moving money around is becoming a game-changer. However, as with any groundbreaking technology, its complexity also creates...

Discover card cover image

Unmasking Crypto Money Laundering with OSINT & Blockchain Forensics

Dive deep into the methods and tools investigators use to unmask crypto money laundering operations. This article reveals how OSINT and blockchain analytics can expose the flow of illicit funds across multiple blockchains. This article is also published on my Medium page. Our preceding article introduced the “Money Laundering Base OSINT Toolkit,” featuring tools like OpenSanctions and OCCRP Aleph, essential for constructing foundational profiles of targets. This groundwork is vital when pivot...

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Web3 Illusion? Study Reveals Shocking Data Leaks from Wallets, Dapps

Think Web3 is private? Think again. Researchers found widespread leaks of wallet data, allowing third-party trackers to build profiles and exploit users. This article is also published on my Medium page. The dream of Web3 promises a new decentralized internet built on blockchain technology - a digital realm where users can roam freely with privacy and control over their data. But, an alarming study from researchers at ETH Zurich exposes how this ebbing crypto frontier may be a Wild West of da...

Discover card cover image

Can We Adapt YARA to Fight DeFi Attacks? A Lazarus Group Case Study Sparks the Question

The Lazarus Group's DeFi money laundering tactics raise a critical question: Can YARA, a tool known for malware detection, be modified to help us systematically identify and classify these attacks? This article is also published on my Medium page. Recently, I had the opportunity to delve into ZachXBT's article detailing the Lazarus Group's sophisticated techniques for laundering over $200 million through DeFi hacks. As I navigated through the myriad of methods and patterns high...

Discover card cover image

Preempting DeFi Attacks: How to Identify Victim Addresses Before Losses Occur

New research reveals a way to predict victims of DeFi smart contract attacks before they happen. Learn how to safeguard your assets in this groundbreaking study. In the ever-changing realm of Decentralized Finance (DeFi), the integrity of smart contracts is crucial. The research paper, “Timely Identification of Victim Addresses in DeFi Attacks,” penned by Bahareh Parhizkari along with collaborators from the University of Luxembourg, ETH Zurich, and Quantstamp, Inc., delves into this issue. Pu...

Discover card cover image

How a Few Characters Could Cost You Your Crypto: The Address Poisoning Threat

Address poisoning is a rising threat in the crypto world. Learn how these scams work, the different types of attacks, and how to protect your digital assets from falling into the wrong hands. This article is also published on my Medium page. Crypto has definitely shaken things up in the finance world, no doubt about it. The whole decentralized, secure, transparent way of moving money around is becoming a game-changer. However, as with any groundbreaking technology, its complexity also creates...

Discover card cover image

Unmasking Crypto Money Laundering with OSINT & Blockchain Forensics

Dive deep into the methods and tools investigators use to unmask crypto money laundering operations. This article reveals how OSINT and blockchain analytics can expose the flow of illicit funds across multiple blockchains. This article is also published on my Medium page. Our preceding article introduced the “Money Laundering Base OSINT Toolkit,” featuring tools like OpenSanctions and OCCRP Aleph, essential for constructing foundational profiles of targets. This groundwork is vital when pivot...

Discover card cover image

Web3 Illusion? Study Reveals Shocking Data Leaks from Wallets, Dapps

Think Web3 is private? Think again. Researchers found widespread leaks of wallet data, allowing third-party trackers to build profiles and exploit users. This article is also published on my Medium page. The dream of Web3 promises a new decentralized internet built on blockchain technology - a digital realm where users can roam freely with privacy and control over their data. But, an alarming study from researchers at ETH Zurich exposes how this ebbing crypto frontier may be a Wild West of da...

Discover card cover image

Unmasking Money Laundering: Graph Neural Networks & the Elliptic2 Dataset

New research reveals how machine learning and a massive dataset expose hidden money laundering patterns in cryptocurrency. Learn how 'subgraph representation' could revolutionize anti-money laundering (AML) efforts. In the evolving landscape of financial technologies, applying advanced computational methods to enhance security measures has become a critical focus. "The Shape of Money Laundering: Subgraph Representation Learning on the Blockchain with the Elliptic2 Dataset," a resear...

Discover card cover image

Unmasking Money Laundering: Graph Neural Networks & the Elliptic2 Dataset

New research reveals how machine learning and a massive dataset expose hidden money laundering patterns in cryptocurrency. Learn how 'subgraph representation' could revolutionize anti-money laundering (AML) efforts. In the evolving landscape of financial technologies, applying advanced computational methods to enhance security measures has become a critical focus. "The Shape of Money Laundering: Subgraph Representation Learning on the Blockchain with the Elliptic2 Dataset," a resear...