geo-tech

/geo-tech16

A place to discuss how crypto and other emerging technologies affect foreign affairs and international security.

Which country did the most interesting thing with crypto this week? Why?
Which country did the most interesting thing with crypto this week? Why?
Which country did the most interesting thing with crypto this week? Why?
Lol you know you've gone far when former CIA director calls out your op: https://x.com/kenklippenstein/status/1838001378121163053

To be fair Panetta wasn't a career intel guy, he was previously like...Sect. of Transportation?
China beginning to capture market share abroad for its (widely recognized as world-leading) electric cars
Which country did the most interesting thing with crypto this week? Why?
Which country did the most interesting thing with crypto this week? Why?
The current U.S. approach to sanctions regulations for financial institutions and multinationals is punitive, heavy-handed, and wasteful.

Burning money investigating transactions related to "Mizu Sushi Lounge" and "Cubacancun Cigars and Gift Shops" ins't going to prevent the next 9/11.

Crypto gets lots of slack for being "lawless", but in reality, the crypto industry has developed has taken a smarter approach to identifying risk, which identifies the most urgent threats while reducing waste and collateral damage.

https://open.substack.com/pub/jchanolm/p/cryptos-rise-is-an-opportunity-to
What will be the most disruptive technology (besides energy, AI, robotics, or crypto) over the next 25 years?
Which country did the most interesting thing with crypto this week? Why?
This is one of the first times I've seen disinformation researchers / anti-disinformation companies provide a substantive KPI for measuring the success of a counter-disinformation initiative.

https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA2771-1.html
Pavel Durov's arrest isn’t just about free speech—it highlights the need for stronger privacy protections and better due process in law enforcement's access to communication platforms.

Thoughts?

https://open.substack.com/pub/jchanolm/p/a-missed-opportunity
I highly highly highly recommend Rest of World for following intersection of tech & politics outside of U.S. and Western Europe.

Some recent stories.

restofworld.org
Unpopular take, but the crypto intelligentia's rush to cast Pavel Durov as a free speech martyr misrepresents the rationale of his arrest, distracts from the actual substantive civil liberty at stake (privacy), and undermines the crypto industry's credibility.

https://open.substack.com/pub/jchanolm/p/the-martyrdom-of-a-brilliant-man
Which country did the most interesting thing with crypto this week? Why?
Somehow, Iran's moribund Supreme Leader has a more...based and informed take on AI models than any American politician?
From RAND - Chinese nationalists are undermining China's influence operations for building soft power abroad.

In one case, Chinese xenophobes criticized a Chinese woman who died protecting a bus full of Japanese children from a knife attack.

Chinese dissidents are circumventing the Great Firewall to share them abroad, undermining China's credibility.
Media landscape for tracking how criminals and bad actors use crypto currency.

Entity : Coinfirm

Overview:
Coinfirm stands out as a top provider of blockchain analytics and AML (Anti-Money Laundering) solutions. Their primary focus is on helping financial institutions, crypto exchanges, and regulators stay compliant while identifying illegal activities in the cryptocurrency world. By leveraging a data-driven approach, Coinfirm's platform is instrumental in detecting and managing risks like money laundering, terrorist financing, and fraud.

Resources
Website: [Coinfirm](https://www.coinfirm.com/)
Newsletter: [Coinfirm Blog](https://www.coinfirm.com/blog/ )
Twitter : (https://twitter.com/Coinfirm_io)
Entities
1. Chainalysis
2. ZachXBT

Relevance:

1. Chainalysis is a blockchain analytics company that provides data and analysis to government agencies and crypto businesses. The team has helped to investigate illicit activities, mitigate risk, and comply with regulatory requirements.


2. ZachXBT is a prominent figure in crypto space, renowned for his expertise in on-chain analysis and investigations into scams and misconduct. He has helped to uncover hundreds of scams and crypto-related criminal activities in the past.


Relevant Links
Chainalysis:
https://www.chainalysis.com/

ZachXBT
https://x.com/zachxbt
TRACKING THE BAD SIDE OF CRYPTO: A CASE STUDY

Entity: CipherTrace

CipherTrace develops cryptocurrency Anti-Money Laundering, cryptocurrency forensics, and blockchain threat intelligence solutions.

Relevance: Leading exchanges, banks, investigators, regulators and digital asset businesses use CipherTrace to trace transaction flows and comply with regulatory anti-money laundering requirements, fostering trust in the cryptocurrency economy. After acquisition by MasterCard, the integrated offering will build on CipherTrace’s suite of digital assets and Mastercard’s cyber security solutions to provide businesses with greater transparency to help identify and understand their risks and to help manage their digital asset regulatory and compliance obligations.

Resources:
Nothing on this as for now as MasterCard are now handling info regarding CipherTrace and have pulled down their blog, but still feel CipherTrace was too big a name in this niche to just overlook.
Media Landscape for tracking how criminals and bad actors use crypto currency


Entity: Elliptic

Overview:
Elliptic is a blockchain analytics firm focused on preventing financial crime and managing cryptocurrency-related risks. By offering tools that help banks, financial institutions, and governments detect and respond to illegal transactions, Elliptic plays a crucial role in safeguarding the financial system from crypto-related threats. Their collaboration with global law enforcement agencies further enhances their relevance in combating financial crimes.

Links/Resources
- Website: https://www.elliptic.co
- Blog: https://www.elliptic.co/blog
- LinkedIn: https://fr.linkedin.com/company/elliptic
- X: https://x.com/elliptic?s=21