Law enforcement agencies investigating cryptocurrency: exploring the enablers and challenges of asset recovery

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore whether law enforcement agencies (LEAs) in England and Wales are appropriately trained and equipped to deal with the asset recovery of cryptocurrencies. Design/methodology/approach Primary qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 15 cryptocurrency investigators from the private and public sectors. Participants were recruited using purposive sampling, and the data were analysed using thematic analysis. Findings Three themes emerged from the analysis: Asset Recovery Enablers, Organisational Challenges and Training Opportunities and Challenges. The findings of this study highlight the importance of public–private collaboration, blockchain analytical tools and open-source intelligence (OSINT) in supporting cryptocurrency asset recovery. However, participants identified challenges relating to organisational capability, communication, staff retention and frontline preparedness. The findings suggest that effective cryptocurrency asset recovery requires a tiered training approach, combining frontline awareness training with specialist investigative capability. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study provides one of the first empirical examinations of the enablers and challenges associated with cryptocurrency asset recovery within LEAs in England and Wales, contributing to the growing literature on cryptocurrency investigations, law enforcement capability and training.