Popular blockchain forensics company, Chainalysis, has announced the appointment of former chief Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) Criminal Investigations team, Jim Lee. According to an announcement on Monday by the firm, Jim Lee, a 29-year veteran of the United States government, will pick up the position of global head of capacity building at Chainalysis.

According to findings, Lee left the Irs Criminal Investigations on March 31, 2024, bringing an end to a stint of 29 years with the agency. In March, the agency disclosed that Guy Ricco would replace Lee by April 1. Following his appointment, Jim Lee will work with the firm’s global teams and report to Chainalysis’s SVP of Global Revenue, Bas Lemmens. 

As revealed, the former IRS official will focus on assisting international agencies to develop solutions to combat crimes involving cryptocurrency. More so, as the global head of capacity building, Jim Lee will work to equip law enforcement officials to tackle threats emerging in the cryptocurrency landscape. 

Furthermore, the newly appointed Chainalysis executive will focus on introducing and maintaining robust compliance programs. While discussing the motive behind his move, Jim Lee described the company as a force to reckon with in the private sector that’s committed towards making the crypto landscape safe. 

He recalled how Chainalysis in the past has worked with U.S authorities to investigate criminal crypto cases. Also, the former IRS official mentioned how the firm assisted in unraveling ransomware attacks during the pandemic and how it has contributed to tracing transactions for tax purposes. 

How Jim Lee Contributed to a Safer Crypto Landscape Before His Appointment by Chainalysis 

Before the appointment of Jim Lee, the former IRS official had numerous occasions worked with the blockchain forensic company. On numerous occasions, Jim Lee, while working with the IRS had collaborated with Chainalysis to seize cryptocurrencies used for criminal activities. 

Lee also assisted in closing the dark web marketplace, Hydra, which contributed to the cashing out of stolen funds from the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack around May 202. Around December 2023, while talking about the lapses in the crypto space, Lee discussed how virtual assets are prone to usage for financing terrorism and ransomware attacks.

However, he admitted that most people use cryptocurrency for legal purposes. Additionally, Jim Lee submitted that crypto has cultivated huge transparency and efficiency to finance. He stated that cryptocurrency is very much still in a developing stage, and with time, it will give individuals more control over their money.  

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