United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) cyber-focused command, the National Cyber Crime Unit (NCCU), is ready to launch a dedicated crypto unit responsible for proactively investigating the U.K.’s cybercrime events involving the usage of cryptocurrencies. The creation of a crypto crime unit follows the loss of $3 billion in cryptocurrency worldwide due to hacks and frauds.

NCA informed Decrypt that the initial squad would consist of five officers stationed at its current NCCU. But the brand new government organisation will also seek to hire a so-called cryptocurrency investigator with solid experience conducting blockchain forensic investigations on serious and organised crime as part of the project.

According to a recent job posting, the investigator will be responsible for supporting ongoing and further investigations where specialised cryptocurrency competence is required and will take a “proactive lead” in identifying possible targets for more inquiry.

Solid experience in conducting blockchain forensic investigations on serious and organised crime as part of the project is also required. Another requirement is experience in locating and recovering seed phrases and sophisticated blockchain tracking.

The National Crime Agency is offering a salary of between 40,200 and 43,705 British pounds (approximately $48,200) per year for the role. The deadline for applications is January 10, 2023.

NCA’s interest in preventing cryptocurrency crime “is not a new thing,” according to a spokeswoman. Still, the creation of this new team signals an increased focus on combating the cybercrime involving crypto and further regulation of crypto assets.

Source: Civil Service Jobs

U.K. Keeps Increasing their efforts to Combat Crypto-Related Crimes

These actions are just one more policy towards the U.K. government’s goal to eliminate what they refer to as “dirty money.” The NCA’s initiative intends to increase regulatory attention on cryptocurrency assets in the U.K. The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill, presented by the U.K. government in September 2022, made clear their intention to combat money laundering and fraud, notably by expanding the ability of law enforcement to seize cryptocurrency used for criminal purposes.

According to National Police Chiefs’ Council detective chief superintendent Andy Gould, all police forces in the U.K. their personnel have been prepared for investigation involving the seizure and enforcement of cryptocurrencies since October of 2022.

Showing how seriously the U.K. National Crime Agency (NCA) is taking its duty of combating cryptocurrency cybercrime related, they reported that have seized about £27 million ($33 million) in cryptocurrency assets in the 2021–2022 fiscal year, up from nothing in the preceding year.

~ By Jordano M. Z. ~