Virtual currency is used to facilitate nearly every type of online criminal activity, including ransomware attacks, child exploitation, and furthering the activities of hostile nation states. Over the past several months, the FBI’s Criminal Investigative and Cyber Divisions developed the Virtual Assets Unit (VAU) as part of the FBI’s strategic plan to address the growing need for virtual asset expertise in the law enforcement and intelligence communities. The VAU will allow the FBI to continue to aggressively track the movement of illicit funds, attribute criminal actors, and disrupt illegal activity.

This session will focus on the exponential growth of virtual assets being exploited by illicit actors and how the FBI is positioning itself to stay ahead of the threat.