TRM Talks

What happens when a top financial journalist turns her lens on crypto policy? In this episode, Ari sits down with Eleanor Terrett — former Fox Business reporter and co-host of the "Crypto in America" podcast — for a timely conversation on how US regulation is reshaping the digital asset ecosystem.Ellie reflects on her path from the New York Stock Exchange to becoming one of the most trusted voices in crypto journalism. She dives deep into the current policy landscape, including the SEC's evolving stance, Congressional negotiations over stablecoin legislation, and the rollout of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. Ari and Ellie discuss:• Why the SEC’s crypto task force is drawing industry attention• What to expect from pending stablecoin bills in Congress• Why collaboration between public and private sectors is critical for national securityEllie also shares insights from her new media venture, "Crypto in America," which amplifies the voices of founders and policymakers shaping the future of blockchain in the US.Whether you're a policymaker, compliance professional, or crypto advocate, this episode unpacks the intersection of regulation, innovation, and journalism — at a time when every headline could signal the next major shift.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Virtual Assets Unit Chief Patrick Wyman, joins Ari on this episode of TRM Talks to explore the Bureau’s evolving strategy for combating crypto-related crime.

Patrick shares his unconventional journey from mortgage fraud investigator to leading the FBI’s work on virtual assets. He explains how the Virtual Assets Unit operates as a cross-programmatic force multiplier — supporting investigations from terrorism financing to child exploitation to ransomware.

Their conversation highlights real-world cases, including a proactive victim outreach initiative tied to crypto investment fraud. This effort has already helped over 4,300 victims avoid further losses — saving an estimated USD 285 million.

Key discussion points include:

• How law enforcement uses blockchain intelligence to disrupt illicit finance
• The rise of crypto in every type of crime — from cyber to violent offenses
• The evolving definition of “wins” in the age of digital assets
• How seizing and forfeiting billions in crypto is now reshaping public sector ROI

Patrick also discusses the critical importance of interagency collaboration, public-private partnerships, and why education — not just enforcement — is essential to staying ahead of bad actors who move at the speed of the internet.

North Korea just executed the biggest crypto heist in history, stealing USD 1.5 billion from Bybit. But how did they do it? And can they be stopped? On this episode of TRM Talks, Jean Lee (The Lazarus Heist) and Nick Carlsen (TRM Labs, Former FBI) join Ari to break down:

• The making of a cyber army — how North Korea recruits and trains hackers from childhood
• The Bybit hack step by step — from infiltration to laundering strategies
• The role of Chinese money laundering networks in enabling illicit finance
• What governments and public-private partnerships can do to disrupt these operations

With cybercrime and national security threats on the rise, this is a conversation you can’t afford to miss.

Today’s Guests

Jean Lee, Journalist and Presidential Chair, East-West Center

Nick Carlsen, Senior Investigator, TRM Labs

Host: Ari Redbord, Global Head of Policy, TRM Labs

In this very timely episode of TRM Talks, Ari sits down with Katherine Minarik, Chief Legal Officer at Uniswap Labs, to discuss a truly extraordinary week in crypto legal history. Katherine, formerly head of litigation at Coinbase, shares her firsthand insights on the SEC’s decision to dismiss its case against Coinbase and to close its investigation into Uniswap, signaling a major shift in regulatory strategy.Ari and Katherine dive deep into the legal battles shaping the future of DeFi and the importance of legal clarity for the nascent growing crypto ecosystem. Katherine also shares her personal journey — from litigating at top firms to championing innovation at Coinbase and Uniswap — and how a real-life debanking experience shaped her belief in DeFi’s power to enable financial access.With landmark legal decisions, shifting regulatory approaches, and a possible reset in US crypto policy, this episode is a must-listen for legal, compliance, and policy professionals navigating the evolving crypto landscape.

Today's Guest

Katherine Minarik, Chief Legal Officer, Uniswap LabsHost: Ari Redbord, Global Head of Policy, TRM Labs

AI reshaping society — the way we live and work. However, it is also supercharging illicit activity from deepfakes to automated fraud, large-scale cyberattacks to child exploitation. In this episode Ari sits down with Hany Farid, UC Berkeley professor and leading expert on deepfakes and AI-driven deception, to unpack how criminals are exploiting artificial intelligence to manipulate reality, commit crimes, and challenge global security.

Hany kicks off the episode with a jaw-dropping live deepfake demonstration, impersonating Ari in real time — a stark warning about how AI-generated identities can be used to deceive businesses, governments, and individuals. From fraudsters using deepfakes to bypass KYC and infiltrate financial institutions, to nation-state actors leveraging AI to spread disinformation and wage cyber warfare, the conversation explores the far-reaching implications of this rapidly evolving technology.Ari and Hany also discuss real-world examples of AI-driven crime, including:

• Synthetic identity fraud and deepfake scams targeting banks and crypto platforms
• Cybercriminals using AI-powered phishing and social engineering attacks
• The role of AI in North Korea’s cybercrime operations
• How deepfakes could be weaponized for political and national security threats
• The ethical and legal challenges surrounding AI-generated content

Despite the risks, there is hope. Ari and Hany dive into the critical need for AI-powered defenses, regulatory frameworks, and public-private collaboration to combat these emerging threats. They discuss the importance of blockchain intelligence, deepfake detection tools, and cybersecurity innovations in staying ahead of bad actors who are weaponizing AI. This is one of the most eye-opening TRM Talks episodes to date — don’t miss this deep dive into the intersection of AI, crime, and security.

Today's Guest

Hany Farid, Professor, University of California, Berkeley

Host: Ari Redbord, Global Head of Policy, TRM Labs

On this episode, Albert Forkner joins Ari as he explores the evolving frontier of finance, sharing his journey from Wyoming’s State Banking Commissioner to leading risk and compliance at Two Ocean Trust. Discover how his work on Wyoming’s innovative SPDI bank charter and his unique perspective on balancing regulation and innovation are helping shape the future of digital assets and trust management in the Cowboy State.

Today's Guest

Albert Forkner, Chief Risk & Compliance Officer and Director, Two Ocean TrustHost: Ari Redbord, Global Head of Policy, TRM Labs

In this episode, Ari speaks with Caroline Hill, Senior Director of Global Policy and Regulatory Strategy at Circle, about Circle's commitment to building with compliance at its core and the future of stablecoin regulation in the United States and globally. Caroline reflects on how her experience at the US Treasury shapes her perspective on regulatory policy and compliance strategy.

Today's Guest:

Caroline Hill, Senior Director of Global Policy and Regulatory Strategy, CircleHost: Ari Redbord, Global Head of Policy, TRM Labs

In this episode Ari sits down with Ronit Ghose, Global Head, Future of Finance, Citi Institute, to discuss how financial institutions are leveraging the power of transformative technologies. In this discussion, Ronit — the author of "Future Money: Fintech, AI and Web3" — explores the rapid transformation of the financial landscape through technologies like blockchain, DeFi, AI and the metaverse. The conversation weaves in historical examples and stories of innovators from across the globe who are working to democratize, shape, and secure this new financial system.

Today's Guest

Ronit Ghose, Global Head, Future of Finance, Citi Institute

In this episode Ari sits down with the the US Treasury’s Caroline Horres of the Office for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence to discuss Treasury’s playbook for mitigating illicit finance risk in the cryptocurrency space. Caroline, the primary author of Treasury’s DeFi and NFT risk assessments and part of the US delegation to the Financial Action Task Force, discusses how the department uses its authorities to target darknet markets, ransomware groups, terrorist financiers and other criminals, while using enforcement actions to emphasize the importance of financial crime compliance.

Today’s Guest

Caroline Horres, Senior Policy Advisor, US Department of the Treasury

Host: Ari Redbord, Global Head of Policy, TRM Labs

In this episode Ari sits down with René Michau, Global Head of Digital Assets at Standard Chartered Bank and Esme Hodson, Chief Compliance Office at, SC Ventures to discuss how the bank is building the bridge from TradFi to DeFi through partnerships, innovation in blockchain technology, compliance, and investment in cryptocurrency infrastructure. As the traditional financial system becomes more decentralized, Standard Chartered is working to shape the future of finance.

Today’s Guest

René Michau, Global Head, Digital Assets, Standard Chartered

Esme Hodson, Chief Compliance Officer, SC Ventures

Host: Ari Redbord, Global Head of Policy, TRM Labs