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Tracers in the Dark: The Global Hunt for the Crime Lords of Cryptocurrency Kindle Edition

by Andy Greenberg (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 969 ratings
Editors' pick Best Nonfiction
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From the award-winning author of Sandworm comes the propulsive story of a new breed of investigators who have cracked the Bitcoin blockchain, exposing once-anonymous realms of money, drugs, and violence.

“A gripping, stranger-than-fiction tale of how a small team of geeks and federal agents cracked what was once thought to be untraceable cryptocurrency.” —Garrett M. Graff, New York Times bestselling author of The Only Plane in the Sky and Watergate

Over the last decade, a single innovation has massively fueled digital black markets: cryptocurrency. Crime lords inhabiting lawless corners of the internet have operated more freely—whether in drug dealing, money laundering, or human trafficking—than their analog counterparts could have ever dreamed of. By transacting not in dollars or pounds but in currencies with anonymous ledgers, overseen by no government, beholden to no bankers, these black marketeers have sought to rob law enforcement of their chief method of cracking down on illicit finance: following the money.

But what if the centerpiece of this dark economy held a secret, fatal flaw? What if their currency wasn’t so cryptic after all? An investigator using the right mixture of technical wizardry, financial forensics, and old-fashioned persistence could uncover an entire world of wrongdoing.

Tracers in the Dark is a story of crime and pursuit unlike any other. With unprecedented access to the major players in federal law enforcement and private industry, veteran cybersecurity reporter Andy Greenberg tells an astonishing saga of criminal empires built and destroyed. He introduces an IRS agent with a defiant streak, a Bitcoin-tracing Danish entrepreneur, and a colorful ensemble of hardboiled agents and prosecutors as they delve deep into the crypto-underworld. The result is a thrilling, globe-spanning story of dirty cops, drug bazaars, trafficking rings, and the biggest takedown of an online narcotics market in the history of the Internet.

Utterly of our time, Tracers in the Dark is a cat-and-mouse story and a tale of a technological one-upmanship. Filled with canny maneuvering and shocking twists, it answers a provocative question: How would some of the world’s most brazen criminals behave if they were sure they could never get caught?
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  1. Print length
    513 pages
  2. Language
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    Vintage
  5. Publication date
    November 15, 2022
  6. File size
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Editorial Reviews

Review

A NEW YORK TIMES EDITORS’ CHOICE
 
“[Greenberg] deftly assembles a rogues’ gallery of characters… [An] absorbing narrative… Each key section of the book—the Silk Road story; the dismantling of its successor, AlphaBay; the massive theft of Bitcoin from the Mt. Gox exchange; and, finally, the bust of the Welcome to Video child porn emporium—unfolds like a compact mystery.”
—New York Times Book Review

“Immensely readable... Greenberg is known for his ability to explain complicated technology in a way anyone can understand, and he doesn’t disappoint when he tackles crypto…. The whole smoky world of crypto starts to open up... [He] takes readers on a romp through some of the most infamous dark web takedowns in recent memory.”
—Washington Post

"Greenberg sketches the evolution of a wholly new discipline in the surprisingly lively real-life police procedural [that] deftly teases out technical detail without slowing the narrative."
—Associated Press

“A pivotal story of the internet, the dark web and policing in the Digital Age. The book demonstrates in gripping, and sometimes thrilling detail, how law enforcement agencies such as the IRS Criminal Investigations unit have harnessed powerful emerging technology to trace cryptocurrency, which once seemed anonymous, right to the doorsteps of some of the world’s most wanted criminals… Tracers in The Dark raises essential questions about the future of cryptocurrency.”
—CyberScoop

“I love the book… It reads like a thriller… These stories are amazing.”
—Michael Lewis, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Big Short

"Andy Greenberg has turned a prescient lens on the investigators, technology, and budding industry that may just be the most powerful weapon we wield in the fight against cybercriminals and illicit nation states who mistakenly believed that the blockchain and cryptocurrency offered them cover. Greenberg tells the tale of this new weapon with his usual eye for technical accuracy and gift for storytelling. This is how the good guys win."
—Nicole Perlroth, New York Times bestselling author of This Is How They Tell Me the World Ends

“A gripping, stranger-than-fiction tale of how a small team of geeks and federal agents cracked what was once thought to be untraceable cryptocurrency. Page after page, Tracers in the Dark proves beyond a reasonable doubt that there is no better reporter covering the wild west of the internet than Andy Greenberg.”
—Garrett M. Graff, New York Times bestselling author of The Only Plane in the Sky and Watergate

“A riveting non-fiction thriller from an exceptional reporter and storyteller. Tracers in the Dark shines a light on how cryptocurrency has been used to hide human rights abuses and trafficking by global crime syndicates—and how a team of crypto tracers learned to expose those schemes by finding a new way to follow the money.”
—Alex Gibney, Academy Award-winning directorof Going Clear and Zero Days

"A master-class in the tactics and countertactics of financial cyberwarfare, laid out in a tense, exciting technothriller."
—Cory Doctorow, New York Times bestselling author of Attack Surface and Red Team Blues

"An immersive look into cryptocurrency and crime... Greenberg’s book is often thrilling, but it will also leave you with plenty to think about once you’ve finished it—making for the best kind of page turner."
—InsideHook

"The best cybercrime book of the last decade."
—Rick Howard, host of the Cyberwire Podcast

"I’ve been covering security for 22 years and I’ve read a whole pile of books on the subject... Tracers in the Dark is as good as it gets."
—Dennis Fisher, host of the Decipher Podcast

“A true, detailed, behind-the-scenes look at high-stakes police operations.”
—Tech Crunch

“[An] absorbing narrative…fascinating.”
—Wired

“A must-read...I was completely enthralled.”
—Laura Shin, host of the Unchained podcast and author of The Cryptopians

"In his exciting new book, [Greenberg] shows how cryptocurrency became a double-edged sword for the criminal sphere."
—L'Express (France)

"A probing investigation...that reads like a whodunit."
—Le Point (France)
"The thrilling tale of a technological race between surveillance authorities and cybercriminals...burning with topicality."
—L'Echo (France)

"Reads like a thriller...In this fine investigative book, corrupt cops, hardened crooks and Russian criminals intersect with intrigues pulled straight from a John LeCarré novel."
—Challenges (France)

"Fascinating and so enthralling...[A] highly recommended book."
—Library Journal (starred review)

"Greenberg examines in fascinating detail how criminals have employed technology for their nefarious ends...He brings to vivid life the assorted players, including the agents who cracked the crimes, those in law enforcement who succumbed to the allure of fast money on the dark web, and the private citizens who ushered in the golden age of cryptocurrency tracing. This is a must-have for the true crime shelf."
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Spellbinding.... Written with great enthusiasm and with an ear for the dramatic turn of phrase...this is the kind of book that yanks the reader’s eyes wide open.... Lively, highly relevant, and more than a little scary.”
—Booklist

"A sinuous, eminently readable story of the darker corners of cyberspace...  Reminiscent in all the best ways of Clifford Stoll’s Cuckoo’s Egg, smoothly blending crime writing with matters of the deepest techno-geekery. An absorbing work of true crime.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

About the Author

ANDY GREENBERG is an award-winning senior writer for Wired magazine, where he covers security, privacy, information freedom, and hacker culture. He is the author of the 2012 book This Machine Kills Secrets and the 2019 book Sandworm. Sandworm and excerpts from it have won a Gerald Loeb Award for International Reporting, a Sigma Delta Chi Award from the Society of Professional Journalists, two Deadline Club Awards from the New York Society of Professional Journalists, and the Cornelius Ryan Citation for Excellence from the Overseas Press Club. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife, documentary filmmaker Malika Zouhali-Worrall.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09SKW8WRV
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vintage (November 15, 2022)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 15, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2434 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 513 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 969 ratings

About the author

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Andy Greenberg

Andy Greenberg

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Andy Greenberg is an award-winning senior writer for WIRED, covering security, privacy, information freedom, and hacker culture. He's the author of the new book TRACERS IN THE DARK: The Global Hunt for the Crime Lords of Cryptocurrency. His previous book SANDWORM: A New Era of Cyberwar and the Hunt for the Kremlin's Most Dangerous Hackers, as well as excerpts from it published in WIRED, won a Gerald Loeb Award for International Reporting, a Sigma Delta Chi Award from the Society of Professional Journalists, two Deadline Club Awards from the New York Society of Professional Journalists, and the Cornelius Ryan Citation for Excellence from the Overseas Press Club. Before coming to WIRED, Greenberg worked as a senior reporter for Forbes magazine. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife, filmmaker Malika Zouhali-Worrall.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
969 global ratings
An eye-opener for those that believe the dark web and cryptocurrency are anonymous
5 Stars
An eye-opener for those that believe the dark web and cryptocurrency are anonymous
The author, Andy Greenberg, takes the reader through a series of actual whodunit cases where the blockchain is used to trace illicit transactions on the dark web. From corrupt FBI agents to drug sales on the Silk Road, culprits are rooted out by following cryptocurrency through the blockchain. Each case is different and often involves an international game of cat and mouse. In addition, the author discusses some of the ethical issues surrounding an anonymous currency. Most readers will find this book an easy and engaging read, even if they are not familiar with the blockchain.
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Top reviews from the United States

Pete
5.0 out of 5 stars Andy Greenberg is a terrific writer!
Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2024
Verified Purchase
I absolutely love all of Andy's books. I've read them all, and his style of writing puts me right there in the action. I'm a heavy reader, so it takes a lot for me to be so moved as to write a review. This book is freakin amazing. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. It's part investigative journalism, true crime, crypto hacking, blockchain shenanigans, I LOVE IT! It's a nerds dream novel, but easily enjoyable from someone unfamiliar with bitcoin or the blockchain. Such a wild story, holy moly. I can't say enough good things about this book. I bought 4 copies (3 to give to my sons), and I just now purchased the Kindle Edition. Thanks Andy for all your incredibly rigorous investigations and work that you do.
4 people found this helpful
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dojo
5.0 out of 5 stars Page Turner
Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2024
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Very good, very immediate writing. I had a hard time putting it down. You’re immersed with people trying to figure out crypto puzzles from beginning to end, to save people's lives. You’re right in the room while suspense builds. Yet, there’s also time to consider the larger implications of privacy vs criminality. It’s a thriller - but also more than a thriller. It’s thoughtful as well.
3 people found this helpful
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Kimberly A. Milford
4.0 out of 5 stars Quality research and intriguing storytelling
Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2024
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This is quite a story. While it requires some in depth explanation of technologies, the heart of the book focuses on cyber crime investigations, the business and economic impact of crypto currency and a slew of interesting personalities.
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IslandBum
5.0 out of 5 stars An eye-opener for those that believe the dark web and cryptocurrency are anonymous
Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2024
Verified Purchase
The author, Andy Greenberg, takes the reader through a series of actual whodunit cases where the blockchain is used to trace illicit transactions on the dark web. From corrupt FBI agents to drug sales on the Silk Road, culprits are rooted out by following cryptocurrency through the blockchain. Each case is different and often involves an international game of cat and mouse. In addition, the author discusses some of the ethical issues surrounding an anonymous currency. Most readers will find this book an easy and engaging read, even if they are not familiar with the blockchain.
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IslandBum
5.0 out of 5 stars An eye-opener for those that believe the dark web and cryptocurrency are anonymous
Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2024
The author, Andy Greenberg, takes the reader through a series of actual whodunit cases where the blockchain is used to trace illicit transactions on the dark web. From corrupt FBI agents to drug sales on the Silk Road, culprits are rooted out by following cryptocurrency through the blockchain. Each case is different and often involves an international game of cat and mouse. In addition, the author discusses some of the ethical issues surrounding an anonymous currency. Most readers will find this book an easy and engaging read, even if they are not familiar with the blockchain.
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3 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars This is an excellent read.
Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2024
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Really illustrates what happens to people when easy money is attainable. Something for nothing is the dream for many. The chapters on child abuse are hard to read, but I suppose they were of value in terms of context.
One person found this helpful
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Mr Miller
5.0 out of 5 stars Great description of Bitcoin tracing
Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2024
Verified Purchase
Book gives some very interesting stories and descriptions that are understandable by the layman. It goes into detail in how law enforcement came to recognize ways to follow the electronic money trail. Trails that people previously thought were untraceable.
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Roger A. Grimes
5.0 out of 5 stars Really enjoyable read on following cryptocurrency and how it happened
Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2023
Verified Purchase
Andy Greenberg is a GREAT storyteller and podcaster. Anything he writes is a must read. Tracers in the Dark was a super enjoyable, easy read. He covers, using people and stories, the basics of bitcoin and the people who try to follow the money to catch cybercriminals. I knew most (but not all) of the people and stories he covered, but Greenberg added a ton of detail I didn't know. He added timelines and color that fleshed out what happened, in each story and the overall timeline. It's a great, easy, read and I'm a better cybersecurity defender for having read it. Although don't read it for any super technical details. You're not going to learn the details of blockchain, bitcoin, or blockchain analysis...only how it's done, generally, and the people involved.
8 people found this helpful
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D. Evans
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent transaction, topic and book.
Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2024
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If you think crypto currency is anonymous, think again. Read the book.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Amruta
4.0 out of 5 stars Quite Interesting!
Reviewed in India on February 19, 2024
Verified Purchase
A must read for those who are amazed by the power of the internet and the potential it wields. I particularly enjoyed the takedowns of alphabay and Welcome to Video.
There is some technical part in the book which I failed to grasp but overall I enjoyed the reading. Took me almost over a year to finish.
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G. Hannan
5.0 out of 5 stars Greenberg at his best
Reviewed in Spain on June 11, 2023
Verified Purchase
Not only can he lay out the thread of the plot in an understandable way, but he transforms it into a gripping story. Great writer, and just as great at making technology understandable.
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Pierfrancesco Di Giuseppe
4.0 out of 5 stars Tracking bitcoins owners
Reviewed in Italy on April 24, 2023
Verified Purchase
Very interesting insigth into long technical chase for bitcoin owners, who thought to be unreachable
Plain text, easy to understand tech stuff
Worth reading
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Calculus
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 3, 2023
Verified Purchase
Excellent book and really well researched.

Well done to the authorities getting all the sickos.

If you're a Dark Net operator you better be reading this because the law is well on your case and they've got major money and tech behind them. My number one tip is work from a basement with a big heavy door because if they get hold of your computer when open/online you're in a whole lot of trouble. In a basement you'll hear them coming and at least have a chance in court because of the off computer. But even then they'll probably break you during questioning as chances are you aren't a hardened criminal.

The other thing is that operators of these markets have to be lucky at all times but the Police only have to be lucky once. Both Silk Road and AlphaBay operators made elementary mistakes a few years back, and that was all it takes to get ya.
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Michael Bacina
5.0 out of 5 stars The most readable cryptocurrency book you will find
Reviewed in Australia on April 3, 2024
Verified Purchase
A really great book to give you insights into how poor a tool for crime crypto is, plus it's a cracking true crime story. Must reading.
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