The inaugural Blockchain Forensics Forum, held in Belgrade, marks a crucial step in Southeastern Europe’s journey to counteract illicit blockchain activities. Founded by Belgrade-based criminalist Stanoje Rnić, the forum has become a hotspot for dialogue and collaboration among top industry professionals.
The forum spanned two days, including workshops and panel discussions with distinguished industry figures. Day 1, at the Attic42 Hub, featured Larry Cameron’s enlightening workshop on de-anonymizing dark web marketplaces. Day 2, at the Faculty of Organizational Sciences, encompassed keynote speeches on AI in cybersecurity, an analysis of the “Boiler Room” case, an overview of Serbia’s Web 3.0 and blockchain ecosystem, and crypto crime investigation. These were inaugurated by Stanoje Rnić and the Secretary of State, Milan Dobrijević.
Three impactful panel discussions formed the crux of the event, delving into Thoughts From Recent Criminal Cases on Web 3.0 and Blockchain; Exploring Technological Tools and Criminal Investigation Techniques to Fight Illicit Activities on Web 3.0 and Blockchain; and Assessing the Current and Future Regulatory Framework for Blockchain and Web 3.0.
Esteemed speakers included Vladimir Vujić, the head of the Cybercrime Department at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Serbia, who notably presented the “Boiler Room” case for the first time. Representatives from prosecutors’ offices also participated, along with industry leaders Chainalysis and Elliptic, sharing their insights into crypto crime investigations.
Contributions from Andrew Schwartz and Michael Roberts of Rexxfield, a cybercrime investigation service, added depth to the panel discussions. Mladen Milosevic, the Ombudsman of Belgrade University, spoke about strengthening criminal law against cryptocurrency abuse, while Elliptic presented a video comparing the pros and cons of different regulatory frameworks.
The forum concluded with the launch of the Archibald initiative, named after the father of forensics in Serbia and the broader region. This initiative aims to leverage AI in crime prevention, with a strong focus on illicit activities on the blockchain.
As a pioneering platform in Southeastern Europe, the Blockchain Forensics Forum Belgrade is poised to stimulate innovation and collaboration in the battle against illicit blockchain activities. With a strong focus on prevention and a proactive approach, it offers a unique platform for professionals to learn, network, and strategize.