FBI Crypto Veteran Chris Wong Joins TRM Labs to Bolster Fight Against Illicit Finance

Christopher Wong, a former FBI Supervisory Special Agent and a leading figure in the agency’s cryptocurrency investigations, has joined blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs.

“Chris is not only one of the most talented and respected investigators in the world, he’s also an inspiring colleague who makes everyone around him better,” Ari Redbord, global head of policy at TRM Labs, told CoinDesk. “He’s been a critical part of elite teams throughout his career, and now brings that same excellence to our mission at TRM.”

During his ten years with the FBI, Wong worked on some of the most high-stakes crypto crime cases to date. He co-led the investigation into the 2016 Bitfinex hack, which resulted in the largest crypto seizure in U.S. history — $3.6 billion.

He also played a central role in probing the $600 million Axie Infinity Ronin Bridge breach, which was linked to North Korea’s Lazarus Group. The attack prompted the first U.S. sanctions on crypto mixing services and helped redefine how U.S. agencies respond to cyber threats involving crypto.

One of Wong’s latest major cases with the FBI involved tracking $7.7 million in crypto tied to North Korea’s IT worker laundering schemes. His efforts revealed how operatives faked their identities to gain jobs in the global tech industry, then funneled earnings back to Pyongyang.

Wong is now joining TRM Labs as a global investigator, with the aim of helping disrupt criminal crypto activity.

“I’m looking forward to learning from Chris as he helps our clients and partners stop illicit actors from exploiting transformative technologies,” Redbord said.