Thinking Crypto News & Interviews
Former FBI Agent Reveals How to Stop Crypto Criminals! | Meredith Fitzpatrick
March 23, 2026
AI Summary
5 min read🎙️ The Voices & The Context
- The Format: Structured interview with host-led questions and expert responses.
- The Key Players:
- Guest: Meredith Fitzpatrick, ex-FBI Special Agent (2017-2023) specializing in criminal cyber and crypto investigations; now Partner and Head of Cryptocurrency at Forensic Risk Alliance (FRA). Famous for bridging law enforcement intel with private-sector crypto forensics.
- Host: Tony Edward, crypto podcast host focused on industry insights.
- The Vibe: Educational and intense, blending insider stories from FBI crypto cases with practical risk advice; professional chemistry builds trust through deep dives.
🗝️ Key Themes & Topics
Interview explores crypto's dark side: from FBI origins to modern forensics, scams, nation-state threats, and compliance evolution.
- Topic 1: Meredith's FBI Journey & Crypto's Investigative Rise. Details her math/software engineering background, shift from CIA dreams to FBI cyber squad in Buffalo (2017), starting with Bitcoin tracing in darknet cases post-Silk Road, evolving to multi-chain complexity amid exploding cases.
- Topic 2: Crypto Crime Evolution & Scams. Covers bad actors' shift from darknet markets to everything (healthcare fraud, cartels, DPRK hacks funding nukes); highlights pig butchering scams exploiting crypto volatility for 300% return promises; stres
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What you'll learn
- 1 (03:00) **Guest Introduction** - Host Tony Edward welcomes Meredith Fitzpatrick, partner and head of crypto at Forensic Risk Alliance
- 2 (03:47) **Meredith's FBI Background** - From software engineering in intelligence to FBI special agent on cyber squad
- 3 (06:43) **Early Crypto Investigations** - First crypto exposure via post-Silk Road darknet cases, mainly Bitcoin tracing
- 4 (08:16) **Crypto's Integration into All Crimes** - Crypto now in nation-state hacks, healthcare fraud, gangs, not just cyber
- 5 (11:05) **Why Criminals Still Use Crypto** - Faster large transfers, non-custodial wallets evade KYC vs. cash tracking challenges
- 6 (13:15) **Crypto Scam Red Flags** - Pig butchering scams promise unrealistic gains like 300% overnight, unlike stock pitches
- 7 (17:00) **Social Engineering in Hacks** - Even sophisticated actors like North Koreans prefer phishing over tech exploits
+ Full timestamped outline available in the app
Show Notes
Meredith Fitzpatrick, Partner and Head of Cryptocurrency at Forensic Risk Alliance, joined me to discuss how the firm helps companies monitor and protect their crypto assets and platforms. Topics:
- Crypto security risks and threats
- How scammers/hackers are using crypto
- International crypto forensics
- Non Custodial Wallet pros and cons
🔐 Safely Store your Crypto with Trezor Hardware Wallets - https://affil.trezor.io/SHlz
💡Get the (Re)Thinking Crypto Book on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D2525DYX
🖥️ Learn Crypto with Expert Commentary - http://MyCryptoCourse.com
Sponsors:
🏦 Learn about iTrustCapital’s powerful Premium Custody Account (PCA) and tax-advantaged Crypto IRA platforms https://www.itrustcapital.com/go/thinkingcrypto
🌟Uphold - Signup with Uphold. https://uphold.sjv.io/gbED4X Terms Apply. Cryptoassets are highly volatile. Your capital is at risk.
🖥️ Sign up with Santiment to get quality crypto metrics - https://app.santiment.net/pricing?fpr=thinkingcrypto Get 25% discount with code THINKINGCRYPTO
📰 Sign up for the Free Thinking Crypto Weekly Newsletter https://thinkingcrypto.substack.com/
✅ Become a Channel Member - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjpkwsuHgYx9fBE0ojsJ_-w/join
🔥 Buy Merch & support the Podcast https://my-store-574b5b.creator-spring.com/
🧙♂️Merlin - http://tinyurl.com/MerlinTCYouTube “I am a Merlin partner and get compensated for purchases made through links in this content"this content"
Follow on social media:
➡️ X(Twitter) - https://x.com/thinkingcrypto
➡️ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thinkingcrypto/
➡️ LinkedIn - http://linkedin.com/company/thinking-crypto
➡️ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thinkingcrypto/
➡️ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@thinkingcrypto5
➡️ Threads - https://www.threads.net/@thinkingcrypto
➡️ Website - https://www.ThinkingCrypto.com/
🔊 Listen to content on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thinking-crypto-news-interviews/id1458945676
🔊 Listen to content on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/221AV5A65v7uYEsuMviVKl
💼Business Inquiries💼
[email protected]
⏰ Time Stamps ⏰
00:00 Intro
02:23 Meredith's background
09:38 Tracking bad actors
13:18 Crypto Investing Education
17:38 Forensic Risk Alliance overview
26:14 Crypto Forensic Tools
31:30 AI Agents
39:39 TradFi institutions security
43:54 Clarity Act
45:31 Wrap up questions
=================================================
#Crypto #Crime #FBI #CryptoNews #Cryptocurrency #Bitcoin #BTC #BitcoinNews #ETF #News #Ripple #XRP #XRPNews #RippleXRP #Ethereum #EthereumNews #ETH #Solana #money #investing #trading #Altcoin #Altcoins #NFTs #Metaverse #Podcast #ThinkingCrypto =================================================
The Thinking Crypto Podcast
- Crypto security risks and threats
- How scammers/hackers are using crypto
- International crypto forensics
- Non Custodial Wallet pros and cons
🔐 Safely Store your Crypto with Trezor Hardware Wallets - https://affil.trezor.io/SHlz
💡Get the (Re)Thinking Crypto Book on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D2525DYX
🖥️ Learn Crypto with Expert Commentary - http://MyCryptoCourse.com
Sponsors:
🏦 Learn about iTrustCapital’s powerful Premium Custody Account (PCA) and tax-advantaged Crypto IRA platforms https://www.itrustcapital.com/go/thinkingcrypto
🌟Uphold - Signup with Uphold. https://uphold.sjv.io/gbED4X Terms Apply. Cryptoassets are highly volatile. Your capital is at risk.
🖥️ Sign up with Santiment to get quality crypto metrics - https://app.santiment.net/pricing?fpr=thinkingcrypto Get 25% discount with code THINKINGCRYPTO
📰 Sign up for the Free Thinking Crypto Weekly Newsletter https://thinkingcrypto.substack.com/
✅ Become a Channel Member - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjpkwsuHgYx9fBE0ojsJ_-w/join
🔥 Buy Merch & support the Podcast https://my-store-574b5b.creator-spring.com/
🧙♂️Merlin - http://tinyurl.com/MerlinTCYouTube “I am a Merlin partner and get compensated for purchases made through links in this content"this content"
Follow on social media:
➡️ X(Twitter) - https://x.com/thinkingcrypto
➡️ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thinkingcrypto/
➡️ LinkedIn - http://linkedin.com/company/thinking-crypto
➡️ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thinkingcrypto/
➡️ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@thinkingcrypto5
➡️ Threads - https://www.threads.net/@thinkingcrypto
➡️ Website - https://www.ThinkingCrypto.com/
🔊 Listen to content on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thinking-crypto-news-interviews/id1458945676
🔊 Listen to content on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/221AV5A65v7uYEsuMviVKl
💼Business Inquiries💼
[email protected]
⏰ Time Stamps ⏰
00:00 Intro
02:23 Meredith's background
09:38 Tracking bad actors
13:18 Crypto Investing Education
17:38 Forensic Risk Alliance overview
26:14 Crypto Forensic Tools
31:30 AI Agents
39:39 TradFi institutions security
43:54 Clarity Act
45:31 Wrap up questions
=================================================
#Crypto #Crime #FBI #CryptoNews #Cryptocurrency #Bitcoin #BTC #BitcoinNews #ETF #News #Ripple #XRP #XRPNews #RippleXRP #Ethereum #EthereumNews #ETH #Solana #money #investing #trading #Altcoin #Altcoins #NFTs #Metaverse #Podcast #ThinkingCrypto =================================================
The Thinking Crypto Podcast
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