Former Chief of IRS-Criminal Investigation, Jim Lee, has made a significant career move by joining Chainalysis as their Global Head of Capacity Building. With nearly three decades of experience in solving large financial crimes, Lee is excited to start this new chapter with Chainalysis, a blockchain forensics firm headquartered in New York. Lee’s career with the IRS-CI included roles such as special agent, special agent in charge, and deputy chief, eventually becoming Chief in October 2020.
Throughout his career, Lee has witnessed the increasing complexity of the illicit world and the financial motivations behind virtually all forms of crime. He highlights the use of cryptocurrency in criminal activities, citing cases such as the takedown of Hydra Market, the largest-ever crypto seizure connected to terrorism financing, and the dismantling of the Welcome to Video dark web child pornography site. In all these cases, cryptocurrency played a significant role, and Lee notes that Chainalysis played a role in aiding these investigations.
Chainalysis, valued at $8.6 billion as of May 2022, uses on-chain data to trace crypto transactions and identify illicit activities involving digital assets. Co-founders Michael Gronager and Jonathan Levin were recognized by Forbes, with Gronager serving as CEO and Levin as CSO of the company. Chainalysis works with law enforcement, tax agencies, financial institutions, and regulators to help build their capacity to fight financial crimes and promote trust in blockchain technology.
Lee’s decision to join Chainalysis was influenced by the company’s commitment to making the cryptocurrency ecosystem safer. He emphasizes the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors in combating financial crimes, a mission he plans to continue at Chainalysis. The company has been involved in various initiatives, including partnering with IRS-CI to train Ukrainian law enforcement officials on blockchain analytics skills and assisting in identifying and seizing cryptocurrency from Hezbollah for Israel’s National Bureau for Counter-Terror Planning.
With Lee’s extensive experience in law enforcement and financial crime investigations, he is expected to bring valuable insights and expertise to his new role at Chainalysis. As Global Head of Capacity Building, Lee will work with various stakeholders to enhance their capabilities in dealing with financial crimes involving digital assets. Chainalysis continues to play a crucial role in promoting transparency and safety in the crypto space, aligning with Lee’s dedication to justice and combating criminal activities in the financial realm.
