Blockchain, Cryptocurrency & Digital Assets

CRA helps preserve, analyze, enrich, and triangulate blockchain-level transaction data. We combine an in-depth understanding of the rapidly changing regulatory expectations as well as proven tools and techniques to summarize transactions associated with known exchanges, transfers, and movement of cryptocurrency, and to visually analyze transactions to discern recognizable patterns more quickly such as layering, tumbling, and integration.

Our cross-trained professionals leverage powerful blockchain intelligence tools to quickly identify and analyze ownership attribution information that can be used to de-anonymize blockchain addresses and identify areas for further investigation. For example, we can help trace and recover assets, uncover associations with criminal or affiliate groups, bring fraud schemes to light, and spot relationships with exchanges and fiat off-ramps where criminal proceeds are being converted from digital currencies to cash.

In support of financial crime investigations, our experts leverage advanced analytics capabilities, techniques and tools to trace transactional activity between various digital currencies across the blockchain and identify red flags. We partner with cryptocurrency investigative platforms to investigate possible suspicious payment activity and assess the related risks.

Leveraging decades of experience in business intelligence and investigations, we also work in collaboration with counsel and compliance officers to establish risk-based compliance programs and protocols. Our experienced team works with technology solutions to help identify customers, vet the wallet, and trace coin flow in order to allow exchange customers to “cash in” and “cash out” under defensible and auditable AML compliance procedures. We also regularly provide investigative and transactional due diligence, and conduct know-your-customer due diligence reviews of higher-risk wallet holders and exchange managers.

With the uncertainty inherent in cryptocurrencies and other digital assets, there has been an increasing number of lawsuits and investigations involving fraud and other traditional securities litigation claims. CRA has decades of experience with high-profile, complex financial litigation and regulatory matters. We support organizations across industries in all phases of financial litigation and have deep in-house expertise in cryptocurrencies, securities, finance, and consumer litigation.

Governments and regulators are taking a more active approach to enforcement of claims of financial markets manipulation, especially with the advent of new digital assets. We have worked on behalf of corporate and management defendants, auditors, underwriters, and plaintiffs. In addition to our work in private litigations, CRA has experience in related disputes including SEC investigations and enforcement proceedings.

Blockchain technologies have the potential to transform the energy industry, from enabling smart customer technologies, to tracking decarbonization efforts, to integrating renewable energy. Blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies also pose unique challenges in terms of energy consumption and infrastructure for the grid. Our team of experts in the Energy Practice can help you evaluate the hype and identify potential winning technologies as the energy transition picks up pace.

Blockchain can improve the security and transparency of pharmaceutical supply chains, which frequently have numerous stakeholders. With multiple stages of manufacture and distribution as well as the hospitals, pharmacies, and physicians who prescribe and dispense drugs to patients, blockchain provides intriguing possibilities to provide end-to-end monitoring, authenticate the supply chain, and prevent counterfeiting. CRA has extensive experience with matters involving counterfeiting and diversion of pharmaceuticals and other products.

Blockchain also has the potential to change how such products are monitored by regulators, how manufacturers approach recalls and corrective actions, and how disputes among participants in the supply chain are handled. Our life sciences experts have extensive experience in dealing with disputes among companies, supply chain considerations, and the impact of changing government regulations to deal with issues raised by this technology.

CRA’s award winning transfer pricing experts bring their extensive experience in all aspects of cross-border intragroup transactions, from planning to documentation to dispute resolution, to the blockchain space. Our experts’ partner with blockchain technology and cryptocurrency companies, as well as their advisors, to help analyze options for structuring their cross-border operations, implement and maintain those structures by complying with the ever-changing transfer pricing rules, and defend them under audit.

While the business applications of blockchain are frequently decentralized and borderless by design, companies still must contend with regulatory frameworks that are tethered to geographic borders and legal entities. CRA’s advisory approach based on the rigor of litigation experience allows flexibility to customize every project and team, bridging the gap between regulatory ambiguity and business needs.