Crystal Intelligence

This is where it all started. One question: Can blockchain truly be transparent? Ten years on, that question has become our mission. We’re proud to be celebrating a decade of blockchain intelligence, and everything that’s come with it. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing the story behind the journey, where we started, what we’ve learned, and what’s next. Explore our story: https://lnkd.in/ejV7_JN2

Crypto regulation is advancing worldwide, but not always in the same direction. Different rules, different priorities, and different levels of enforcement are shaping a fragmented landscape. What’s the biggest challenge this creates?

Malware that lives on the blockchain, and can’t be removed. It's already happening. In a recent PCMag investigation, Nick Smart highlights a new attack chain where malicious code is hidden across multiple blockchains before deploying its final payload. The result: → Hundreds of thousands of credentials compromised → Malware that “literally steals everything” → And infrastructure that’s almost impossible to shut down once deployed This isn’t just another phishing campaign, but an evolution in how attackers use Web3 itself as the delivery mechanism. The line between infrastructure and attack surface is disappearing. Worth a read if you're interested in where cyber threats are heading next. https://lnkd.in/eWNVdGQQ

We talk a lot about the promise of digital finance. Far less attention is paid to the cost of keeping it secure. In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Navin Gupta, CEO of Crystal Intelligence, and Nick Smart, Chief Intelligence Officer, join the studio for a deep dive into crypto-related fraud, stablecoins, AI-driven scams, and the structural challenges of operating in a 24/7 financial system. This is not a headline-driven discussion about hacks. It is a serious examination of how financial crime has industrialized, how artificial intelligence is increasing scale and precision, and what happens when the velocity of money moves faster than regulatory and institutional infrastructure. Here is what this episode explores: 👉🏻 Are we building faster finance or faster fraud? 👉🏻 The Lazarus Group, the Bybit incident, and institutional response 👉🏻 Why blockchain transparency does not automatically equal safety 👉🏻 AI-powered scams and the industrialization of financial crime 👉🏻 Stablecoins, systemic risk, and regulatory blind spots 👉🏻 Tokenization, liquidity, and real economic demand 👉🏻 Financial inclusion versus financial vulnerability 👉🏻 Why reporting scams may be one of the most practical defenses available As digital assets integrate deeper into mainstream finance, conversations around risk, accountability, and systemic resilience are no longer optional. The full episode will be live tomorrow. Available on YouTube and all major podcast platforms. 🎧 Thank you to our Season 4 partners: Adyen, Mastercard, Thunes, Digit9, e& UAE, and SC Ventures by Standard Chartered. #couchonomicswitharjun #digitalassets #crypto #stablecoins

Stablecoins are growing, but how much of that activity is actually real usage? New analysis shows a widening gap between headline market size and genuine peer-to-peer transactions, with much of the volume driven by internal mechanics. This week’s Chronicle breaks it down 👇

Stablecoins aren’t all “money.” Some are becoming infrastructure. Our latest data shows a clear split: → USDC: 77% of activity is now DeFi-driven (collateral, swaps, loops) → USDT: still dominates real-world payments at scale → Others? Growing supply… but little actual usage Market cap ≠ real-world utility. If you’re assessing risk, compliance, or adoption, what matters isn’t volume, it’s what that volume represents. Read the full breakdown →https://lnkd.in/dBsbnnmP

How many policymakers actually use crypto or blockchain tools? Tom Keatinge recently asked a room of policy decision-makers a simple question. Very few hands went up. The challenge: making rules for technology many regulators have never used. Read more: https://lnkd.in/e7S3_k-j

Australia might finally be closing its crypto regulation gap 👀 A new bill is pushing to bring crypto platforms and custody providers under financial services rules, including licensing, risk controls, and stronger protection for customer assets. Which is interesting… because this is exactly the problem we called out not too long ago. In our blog on the state of crypto regulation in Australia, the big issue was: 👉 Lots of activity 👉 Lots of regulators 👉 Not enough coordination or clarity This bill is a step towards fixing that. The real challenge hasn’t been regulation itself, it’s been the lack of clear, joined-up rules. Now Australia’s trying to change that. The question is: will it unlock growth… or slow things down? https://lnkd.in/ezwRK6Ve

The Travel Rule isn’t just a technical box to tick, and the latest insights from Sumsub’s State of the Crypto Industry 2026 report reinforce exactly that. We’re proud to see our Compliance Advisory, Irina Gorbach, featured in this year’s report, sharing a perspective we’re seeing more and more across the industry. As crypto ecosystems evolve, compliance is becoming less about which protocol you use, and more about how effectively you interpret risk across increasingly complex transaction environments. From unhosted wallets to multiple Travel Rule standards, firms need a consistent, risk-based approach that works across borders, counterparties, and technologies. That’s where the real challenge (and opportunity) lies. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/eTGTqJ3C

What a great few days at MERGE São Paulo!   It was great to see so many conversations focused on one thing: The reality of operating in an increasingly regulated digital asset ecosystem.   Our COO, Marina Khaustova, joined a panel on AML and regulatory expectations in digital assets, alongside experts from across the industry.   A few themes really stood out: • Compliance is no longer a future problem. It’s a current operational priority • Risk management frameworks need to evolve as fast as the technology • Collaboration between institutions, regulators, and service providers is becoming essential    As digital assets mature, expectations are rising and so is the need for clarity, consistency, and better data.   Thanks to everyone who joined the session and shared their perspectives.