What CipherBlade does

CipherBlade is a private blockchain investigation agency founded in 2018 and headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska, with a regional Asia-Pacific entity (CipherBlade APAC Pte. Ltd.) in Singapore. The firm provides cryptocurrency forensics, fund recovery, expert witness services, law enforcement training and investigation support, and business security advisory (including incident response, due diligence, source-of-funds investigations, and AML/compliance consulting). Its core technology comprises multi-tool blockchain analytics and visualization across Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other chains, combined with proprietary methodologies for modus operandi reconstruction and real-time tracing and monitoring of stolen funds, including coordination with digital asset services and law enforcement to flag, blacklist, intercept, and freeze illicit proceeds.

The firm operates a sales-led, consultative go-to-market: clients enter through 30-minute expert consultations, law enforcement referrals, attorney and law firm relationships, or incident response activations, after which bespoke case evaluations precede engagement agreements. Revenue is generated entirely through professional services engagements (case investigations, expert testimony, recovery coordination, business advisory, training programs, and consultations) priced on a quote basis rather than publicly disclosed rates. Customer segments are deliberately horizontal and span individual victims of cybercrime (exchange hacks, ransomware, SIM swapping, investment and romance/pig-butchering scams), law enforcement agencies, law firms and litigants, cryptocurrency businesses, and a secondary tier of high-net-worth individuals and small businesses seeking security training and consultation.

CipherBlade's defensibility rests on a veteran team with academic, law enforcement, military, and crypto-industry backgrounds (CEO Justin Maile previously led analysts at Chainalysis), a network of trusted-partner relationships with major blockchain analytics providers (Elliptic, Merkle Science, Global Ledger, BIG, CryptoLock, Macnerd), and a documented track record of assisting with seizures and recoveries valued in millions of dollars across hundreds of cases since inception. The firm is privately held with no disclosed parent company, funding rounds, or external investors.

Name

CipherBlade

Legal name

CipherBlade LLC

Website

https://cipherblade.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CipherBlade is a private blockchain investigation agency founded in 2018 that provides cryptocurrency forensics, fund tracing and recovery, expert witness services, and incident response to cybercrime victims, law enforcement agencies, law firms, and crypto businesses globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Blockchain Forensics and Cryptocurrency Investigation Services

akta.pro primary industry

Blockchain Forensics & Investigations (attribution, tracing, recovery support) (FSAPAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cybercrime, Ransomware & Illicit Finance Intelligence (Crypto) (FSADALAL), Blockchain Compliance, AML & Transaction Monitoring (On-chain Analytics) (FSAGAMAF), Fraud Detection, Scam Prevention & Account Takeover (Crypto) (FSADALAF)

Keywords

• Blockchain forensics
• Cryptocurrency investigation
• Crypto asset recovery
• Expert witness services
• Blockchain analytics

Headquarters

HQ city

Anchorage

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Cryptocurrency Investigation Services: Bespoke investigation services for victims of cybercrime, including tracing stolen funds, uncovering perpetrator identities, and reconstructing crime modi operandi. Tailored strategies based on thorough evaluation of each unique case.
2. Expert Witness Services: Expert testimony and litigation support for legal cases including divorce, business disputes, criminal proceedings, bankruptcy, and estate administration. Services include evidentiary strategy, discovery support, and forensic investigation.
3. Cryptocurrency Recovery Services: Tracing and monitoring of stolen funds in real-time, leveraging industry network to flag and blacklist addresses with the goal of having proceeds of crime intercepted and frozen. Liaising between victims, digital asset services, and law enforcement internationally.
4. Business Security Advisory: Security advisory services including incident response, security risk assessments, credential management protocols, and training programs for crypto businesses. Also includes due diligence, source-of-funds investigations, and compliance/AML consulting.
5. Law Enforcement Training and Support: Crypto competency training programs for law enforcement agencies and investigation support services. Tailored training from beginner to advanced levels covering cryptocurrency forensics and blockchain investigations.
6. Consultation Services: 30-minute consultations with cryptocurrency experts addressing questions regarding cryptocurrency security, security training for high-net-worth individuals and small businesses, and advisory services for blockchain projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CipherBlade is a blockchain investigation agency that provides cryptocurrency forensics, fund tracing, and recovery services using multiple third-party forensics tool suites to analyze transactions across Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other blockchains. The firm also delivers expert witness testimony, incident response, security advisory, due diligence, AML/compliance consulting, and tailored training programs for law enforcement, law firms, crypto businesses, and individual crime victims globally.

Product overview

CipherBlade is a blockchain investigation agency offering a comprehensive suite of cryptocurrency forensics services centered on three core areas: (1) investigations for crime victims to trace stolen funds and assist law enforcement, (2) expert witness services for legal proceedings including divorce, criminal defense, and civil cases, and (3) business services including incident response, security advisory, due diligence, and AML compliance consulting. Law enforcement training and investigation support services complement the offering. The company operates globally with teams across multiple continents providing 24/7 response capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Blockchain Forensics Analysis and visualization of blockchain transactions using multiple forensics tool suites to trace the flow of funds across Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other blockchains. Provides actionable intelligence for fund recovery, criminal prosecution, and litigation purposes.
• Cryptocurrency Recovery Tracing and monitoring of stolen funds in real-time, leveraging industry network to flag and blacklist addresses with the goal of having proceeds of crime intercepted and frozen. Includes international liaison between victims, digital asset services, and law enforcement to support an orderly recovery process.
• Expert Testimony Services Legal case support including evidentiary strategy, discovery support, forensic investigation, and court testimony for divorce, business disputes, criminal defense, civil prosecution, consumer protection, bankruptcy, and estate administration matters involving cryptocurrency.
• Incident Investigations Investigation services for victims of cryptocurrency-related crimes including pig-butchering scams, wallet compromises, investment fraud, romance scams, SIM-swapping, corporate hacks, and DeFi exploits.
• Incident Response On-call blockchain forensic expert response for security breaches and fraudulent activity targeting crypto businesses, providing real-time tracking and analysis with global 24/7 monitoring capabilities.
• Security Advisory Risk assessments, security protocol development, credential management best practices, and team training for cryptocurrency businesses.
• Due Diligence and Source-of-Funds Investigations Transaction history analysis and fund origin verification to ensure regulatory compliance and uncover anomalies indicating illicit activities.
• Compliance and AML Consulting Anti-money laundering program development, team training, suspicious activity report filings, and investigation support for cryptocurrency businesses.
• Law Enforcement Training Comprehensive cryptocurrency forensics training programs for law enforcement agencies covering blockchain technology, transaction tracing, and investigative techniques from beginner to advanced levels.
• Law Enforcement Investigation Support Collaborative investigation assistance to law enforcement agencies, providing blockchain forensics expertise and overcoming resource and tool access limitations.
• Consultations 30-minute consultation sessions with cryptocurrency experts addressing security questions for individuals and businesses, including security training for high-net-worth individuals and small businesses.

Quantifiable outcome

• Assisted with seizure of millions of dollars of stolen cryptocurrencies
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• EllipticcoreTechnology or IntegrationBlockchain analytics and forensics firm listed as a trusted partner. CipherBlade likely utilizes Elliptic's tools and potentially collaborates on investigations requiring advanced blockchain analysis capabilities.
• Merkle SciencecoreTechnology or IntegrationCryptocurrency compliance and blockchain intelligence platform listed as a trusted partner. Provides transaction monitoring and risk assessment capabilities relevant to CipherBlade's investigations.
• Global LedgercoreTechnology or IntegrationBlockchain analytics firm listed as a trusted partner, likely providing additional blockchain forensics and transaction tracing capabilities for investigations.
• BIG (Blockchain Intelligence Group)coreTechnology or IntegrationBlockchain forensics and analytics company listed as a trusted partner, providing investigative tools that support CipherBlade's tracing capabilities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Scorechain: Scorechain offers blockchain analytics, AML/KYC, and transaction monitoring tools for crypto businesses and compliance teams. It overlaps with CipherBlade's compliance consulting and investigation support services in the institutional and crypto-business segments.
• Merkle Science: Merkle Science provides blockchain transaction monitoring, compliance, and forensic investigation tools targeting crypto businesses, regulators, and law enforcement. It is listed as a CipherBlade trusted partner and overlaps directly on investigation and compliance mandates.
• Global Ledger: Global Ledger provides real-time crypto transaction monitoring, forensics, and recovery support. It is a listed CipherBlade trusted partner and directly competes for stolen-fund tracing and law enforcement investigation engagements.
• Blockchain Intelligence Group (BIG): BIG offers BitRank-verified blockchain analytics, forensics, and investigation tools used by law enforcement, regulators, and crypto businesses. It is listed as a CipherBlade trusted partner and competes on similar investigation and compliance use cases.
• Crystal Intelligence: Originally built by Bitfury, Crystal Intelligence offers blockchain analytics and investigation software for law enforcement, financial institutions, and crypto businesses. It competes with CipherBlade across forensics, AML monitoring, and investigative casework.

Broad incumbents

• Elliptic: Elliptic offers blockchain analytics, transaction screening, and investigation software, and is listed as a CipherBlade trusted partner. It competes with CipherBlade for institutional and law enforcement investigation mandates while also serving as an upstream tooling provider.
• CipherTrace (Mastercard): Acquired by Mastercard, CipherTrace provides crypto intelligence, AML, and forensics solutions for exchanges, financial institutions, and governments. It competes directly with CipherBlade's crypto-business compliance and investigation services and brings significant parent-company resources.
• Chainalysis: Chainalysis is the largest blockchain analytics platform, offering transaction monitoring, investigation tools, and compliance software used by law enforcement and crypto businesses. It is CipherBlade's most significant competitor and also its CEO's former employer, making it the closest comparable despite much greater scale.
• TRM Labs: TRM Labs provides blockchain intelligence and AML compliance tools for crypto businesses, financial institutions, and government agencies. It directly overlaps CipherBlade's law enforcement, crypto-business compliance, and investigation use cases at a platform scale.

Emerging players

• Elementus: Elementus provides blockchain analytics and forensic investigation services focused on tracing stolen funds and uncovering on-chain illicit activity. It overlaps with CipherBlade's cybercrime investigation and crypto-business incident response work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/p/CipherBlade-61551252805592
• Xx.com/cipher_blade

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CipherBlade