Lords of Crypto Crime

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Over the last decade, cryptocurrency has significantly fueled digital black markets, allowing crime lords in lawless corners of the internet to operate with unprecedented freedom in activities like drug dealing, money laundering, and human trafficking. By using anonymous currencies not controlled by any government or banks, these criminals have evaded law enforcement's primary tool for combating illicit finance: tracing transactions. However, what if this dark economy had a hidden, fatal flaw? An investigator equipped with technical skills, financial forensics, and determination could potentially expose a vast world of wrongdoing. This narrative offers a unique perspective on crime and pursuit, featuring insights from major players in federal law enforcement and private industry. Veteran cybersecurity reporter Andy Greenberg recounts a gripping saga of criminal empires rising and falling, introducing an IRS agent with a rebellious spirit, a bitcoin-tracing Danish entrepreneur, and a colorful cast of agents and prosecutors as they explore the crypto-underworld. The story unfolds as a thrilling, globe-spanning account of dirty cops, drug bazaars, trafficking rings, and the largest takedown of an online narcotics market in internet history. Ultimately, it presents a cat-and-mouse tale of technological one-upmanship, filled with clever maneuvering and shocking twists, raising a provocative question: How would the world’s most a