Giottus launches Handbook for Investigations into Virtual Digital Assets

Crypto exchange Giottus and law firm Hash Legal on Wednesday released a jointly authored 'Handbook for Investigations into Virtual Digital Assets' which aims to help law-enforcement officers handling crypto-related company said the handbook is designed to provide law enforcement agencies with practical tools for tracking and solving crypto-related crimes. It includes: step-by-step procedures for conducting crypto investigations; insights into common crypto crimes such as money laundering, Ponzi schemes, and cyber fraud; legal frameworks relevant to virtual digital assets under Indian laws; techniques for tracing transactions across exchanges and wallets; and the guidance on cross-border investigations for cases involving international actors. Handbooks like these will go a long way in filling the knowledge gap of investigators dealing with crypto cases. It is a great effort, and I hope the police force will make full use of the expertise of organizations like Giottus, Director General of Police (DGP) of Tamil Nadu Shankar Jiwal said at the launch which took place at the Police Headquarters, CEO Vikram Subburaj said the handbook could be used as a ready-reckoner and it will guide law-enforcers when they are faced with doubts regarding crypto cases. He said the handbook is neatly organised and an investigator could easily find the information required. We found that many officers were hesitant to handle crypto cases and they often grappled with fundamental questions like 'Is crypto legal in India?' or 'Can crypto-related crimes be solved?' This is what led us to put together a structured guide that demystifies investigations in this space, Subburaj Ahmed, Partner at Hash Legal added that an effort was made to cover all legal provisions and elaborate on various scenarios, so that agencies can understand the nature of crypto offenses and are equipped with the tools necessary to investigate them. It is also vital that victims of crypto crimes be met with the same empathy and compassion as victims of any other offense. We hope the outcome of this Handbook will be to ensure a balanced approach that both upholds the law and supports those who have been wronged, he said.