The problem is clear: too many crypto leads, too few specialists.
Cases pile up, evidence goes stale, and investigators hesitate because they lack the adequate resources.
In our recent webinar, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the U.K.’s National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) explained how they are using Chainalysis Rapid to break that cycle: removing bottlenecks, equipping non-specialists, and speeding up real cases.
Frontline impact: Decisions in real-time
Chad Martin, Task Force Officer with the DEA:
“We’ll be right on the street, we’ll be in the middle of a search warrant, and typically we’ll find a pile of papers with a bunch of cryptocurrency addresses. Now we can scan those live on scene and know if it’s something worth escalating.”
He added that Rapid changes how older cases are handled:
“I can go back, read my old reports, dump addresses into Rapid, and immediately see the balance, the last transaction, and whether it’s linked to darknet markets or sanctions. That’s information I never had time to research before.”
Breaking bottlenecks: Scaling capacity
For the NPCC, the issue was scale. Too few investigators had access to advanced tools, creating queues and delays. Andrew Pester, National Crypto Asset Investigator with the NPCC, described the change:
“We don’t see so many early inquiries anymore — Rapid has made things easier. The thing you can’t get on open-source tools is attribution: the tags, the risk categories, the links to crime. You literally can’t find that anywhere else.”
Beyond cybercrime: Part of every agency’s toolkit
Rapid is not confined to cybercrime or narcotics cases. Agencies tackling fraud, financial crime, and tax enforcement are adopting it to triage crypto leads quickly and identify high-risk activity.
Wherever crypto exposure matters, Rapid makes it possible for investigative teams to act without waiting for a crypto expert.
Ian Osborne, Detective Sergeant from the NPCC’s Crypto Assets and Darkweb Team added:
“Rapid’s triage is part of the suite of crypto tools you need as part of your arsenal to get things done.”
Starting out: Lowering the barriers, building confidence
New investigators often hesitate to act when they come across crypto evidence. Andrew Pester, NPCC, explained:
“It’s an incredible challenge for new investigators… a lot of the time, we see the reluctance to actually start an investigation or make a decision because they’re not confident in how they feel. But Rapid really allows individuals to dip their toe into the water in an accessible way, and that’s where the confidence comes.”
Chad Martin, DEA, put it simply:
“It’s like scanning a menu at a restaurant. You can find a QR code for a Bitcoin address. You scan the code just like you would a menu, and it pops up with everything relevant about the cryptocurrency you need to know.”
Each search builds confidence. Before long, crypto triage becomes second nature.
Key takeaways: Why agencies choose Rapid
- On the scene: Look up and triage crypto addresses instantly.
- Reduce backlogs: Free up specialists by filtering routine leads.
- Accessible to all: Minimal training required, plain-language results.
- Trusted intelligence: Attribution and risk context you won’t find on block explorers.
- Whole-of-government use: From cybercrime units and drug enforcement to financial and tax authorities.
Crypto crime will not slow down. With Rapid, neither should your investigations.
If you’re a public sector customer with an Investigations package, you may already have access. Login to Rapid here.
To find out more or book a demo, contact your chainalysis rep or get in touch here.
New to blockchain investigations? See our Blockchain Intelligence for Law Enforcement guide for the fundamentals.
This website contains links to third-party sites that are not under the control of Chainalysis, Inc. or its affiliates (collectively “Chainalysis”). Access to such information does not imply association with, endorsement of, approval of, or recommendation by Chainalysis of the site or its operators, and Chainalysis is not responsible for the products, services, or other content hosted therein.
This material is for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide legal, tax, financial, or investment advice. Recipients should consult their own advisors before making these types of decisions. Chainalysis has no responsibility or liability for any decision made or any other acts or omissions in connection with Recipient’s use of this material.
The post From Backlog to Action: DEA and NPCC on Scaling Crypto Triage with Chainalysis Rapid appeared first on Chainalysis.
