Episode Title:

When Technology Goes Wrong: The Rise and Demise of Helix – The First Big Dark Web Cryptocurrency Mixer

Podcast Host:

Paddy Dhanda

Guest:

Geoff White, investigative journalist, author of Rinsed, and host of The Lazarus Heist

Episode Summary:

In this episode of When Technology Goes Wrong, host Paddy Dhanda is joined by investigative journalist Geoff White to expose the story of Helix – the first major cryptocurrency mixer on the dark web. What began as a tool for privacy quickly became a hub for laundering billions in illicit funds.

Geoff, author of Rinsed and presenter of the BBC podcast The Lazarus Heist, explains how Helix operated, how its creator Larry Harmon profited from criminal activity, and how law enforcement finally brought the operation down – with the help of a Google Glass selfie.

Together, they explore the murky intersection of privacy, innovation, and criminal exploitation in the digital age.

Key Topics Covered:

✔️ What crypto mixers are and how Helix became the go-to tool for criminals✔️ How law enforcement traced Larry Harmon using blockchain forensics and Google Glass✔️ The ethical debate around privacy tools and their misuse✔️ The role of regulators and the challenges of policing the dark web✔️ Lessons for tech leaders, developers, and policymakers

Notable Quotes:

🔹 “It’s the ultimate. It’s a white glove privacy service.” – Geoff White🔹 “Every tech innovation opens up new space for money launderers to do their work in.”

Resources & Links:

🎙 The Lazarus Heist podcast – BBC Sounds📘 Rinsed by Geoff White – available on Bookshop.org, Amazon, and audiobook platforms🌐 More from Geoff White – geoffwhite.tech

🎧 Listen now and discover how a seemingly clever privacy tool became a global criminal enabler. If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe, rate, and review to support the show.

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