Securities Regulation and Enforcement Series – A Study in Contrasts: Innovation and Crypto versus the Crypto Fraud Landscape
Wed Jan 21 2026
In the Season 3 premiere, co-hosts Valerie Mirko, Partner at Armstrong Teasdale LLP and leader of the firm’s Securities Regulation and Litigation Practice, and William Nelson, Director of Public Policy and Associate General Counsel at the Investment Adviser Association, are joined by Caitlin Barnett, Director of Regulation & Compliance at Chainalysis for a timely, practical conversation on how crypto fraud is evolving - and what lawyers, regulators, and compliance professionals need to know now. This episode complements prior crypto episodes and addresses the misuse of innovation, which harms investors and erodes confidence in crypto and innovation.
Drawing on Chainalysis’s frontline experience, Caitlin explains how crypto fraud has advanced, dispels common misconceptions, and breaks down how blockchain forensics works in practice—from spotting suspicious activity to tracing funds. The conversation then turns to regulatory and compliance implications, including where crypto fraud most directly intersects with securities law, common compliance gaps for regulated firms, and what it takes to move from on-chain activity to real-world attribution and recovery. The episode closes with a forward-looking discussion of emerging fraud techniques, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence.
A must-listen for securities lawyers, compliance officers, regulators, and others navigating the rapidly evolving crypto enforcement landscape.
Recent Past Episodes of this Series:
A Year of Change, Challenges, and What Comes Next (12/17/2025)
When Washington Stops: What the 2025 Shutdown Means for the SEC and Congress Going Forward (11/19/2025)
The SEC’s New Direction: Enforcement and Governance in Focus (10/22/25)
From Memecoins to Custody: What Firms Need to Know About Crypto (9/24/25)
Corp Fin in Flux: What the SEC’s Latest Moves Mean for Issuers and Investors (8/13/25)
AI in the Investment Adviser Industry (7/16/25)
Please note, the positions and opinions expressed by the speakers are strictly their own, and do not necessarily represent the views of their employers, nor those of the D.C. Bar, its Board of Governors or co-sponsoring Communities and organizations.
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In the Season 3 premiere, co-hosts Valerie Mirko, Partner at Armstrong Teasdale LLP and leader of the firm’s Securities Regulation and Litigation Practice, and William Nelson, Director of Public Policy and Associate General Counsel at the Investment Adviser Association, are joined by Caitlin Barnett, Director of Regulation & Compliance at Chainalysis for a timely, practical conversation on how crypto fraud is evolving - and what lawyers, regulators, and compliance professionals need to know now. This episode complements prior crypto episodes and addresses the misuse of innovation, which harms investors and erodes confidence in crypto and innovation. Drawing on Chainalysis’s frontline experience, Caitlin explains how crypto fraud has advanced, dispels common misconceptions, and breaks down how blockchain forensics works in practice—from spotting suspicious activity to tracing funds. The conversation then turns to regulatory and compliance implications, including where crypto fraud most directly intersects with securities law, common compliance gaps for regulated firms, and what it takes to move from on-chain activity to real-world attribution and recovery. The episode closes with a forward-looking discussion of emerging fraud techniques, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence. A must-listen for securities lawyers, compliance officers, regulators, and others navigating the rapidly evolving crypto enforcement landscape. Recent Past Episodes of this Series: A Year of Change, Challenges, and What Comes Next (12/17/2025) When Washington Stops: What the 2025 Shutdown Means for the SEC and Congress Going Forward (11/19/2025) The SEC’s New Direction: Enforcement and Governance in Focus (10/22/25) From Memecoins to Custody: What Firms Need to Know About Crypto (9/24/25) Corp Fin in Flux: What the SEC’s Latest Moves Mean for Issuers and Investors (8/13/25) AI in the Investment Adviser Industry (7/16/25) Please note, the positions and opinions expressed by the speakers are strictly their own, and do not necessarily represent the views of their employers, nor those of the D.C. Bar, its Board of Governors or co-sponsoring Communities and organizations.