What to Know:
- Christopher Wong, a former FBI agent known for his work on high-profile cryptocurrency cases, has joined TRM Labs to enhance their investigative capabilities.
- Wong co-led the investigation into the 2016 Bitfinex hack, leading to the largest crypto seizure in U.S. history, and played a vital role in the Axie Infinity Ronin Bridge breach investigation.
Christopher Wong, a notable former Supervisory Special Agent at the FBI, has officially transitioned to the blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs. “Chris is not only one of the most talented and respected investigators in the world, he’s also an inspiring colleague who makes everyone around him better,” said Ari Redbord, TRM Labs’ Global Head of Policy. “He’s been a critical part of elite teams throughout his career, and now brings that same excellence to our mission at TRM.”
During his decade-long tenure with the FBI, Wong was instrumental in major cryptocurrency crime investigations. He was co-leader of the 2016 Bitfinex hacking investigation, resulting in the seizure of $3.6 billion in cryptocurrency—marking it as the largest in U.S. history.
Additionally, he played an essential role in examining the $600 million Axie Infinity Ronin Bridge breach related to North Korea’s Lazarus Group. This incident prompted the first U.S. sanctions on crypto-mixing services and significantly influenced how U.S. agencies respond to crypto-related cyber threats.
Wong’s recent cases included tracking $7.7 million in cryptocurrency linked to North Korea’s IT worker laundering schemes, highlighting how operatives falsified identities to secure jobs in the tech sector, subsequently funneling income back to North Korea.
In his new role at TRM Labs, Wong aims to lead efforts to disrupt criminal activities within the cryptocurrency domain.
“I’m excited to learn from Chris as he assists our clients and partners in stopping illicit actors from exploiting transformative technologies,” Redbord added.
