New Crypto and International Security Taskforce Launched

The Crypto and International Security Taskforce will assess the threats associated with the illicit use of crypto, while also considering its legitimate applications and the policy consequences of different regulatory and enforcement responses. It will bring together senior government officials, law enforcement and regulatory authorities, researchers and private sector experts.

There is a pressing need for this work. Generative AI is accelerating malicious activity faster than it can be investigated, and nation-states are plugging into the illicit crypto supply chains originally built for cybercriminals and organised crime groups.

The Taskforce will convene several meetings. These will focus on:

• Threat assessment: mapping how illicit actors are exploiting crypto for organised crime, terrorist financing, sanctions evasion and political interference; 
• Response: examining the regulatory, law enforcement and industry tools available to counter illicit use; 
• Protective and legitimate use cases: considering how crypto and blockchain analytics can support civil society or aid/humanitarian efforts.

The Taskforce will also hold a capstone conference to share its findings and recommendations with a wider audience of policymakers and practitioners. Alongside these meetings, it will convene a special session at RUSI’s SIFMANet Summit in London in December 2026, focusing on the use of crypto in sanctions circumvention.