El Podcast

E102: Crypto Criminals: The New Age of Money Laundering - w/ Geoff White

Episode Summary

In this conversation, investigative journalist Geoff White discusses his book 'Rinsed: From Cartels to Crypto,' which explores the evolution of money laundering from the days of Pablo Escobar to modern cyber crimes involving North Korea. He outlines the three stages of money laundering—placement, layering, and integration—and highlights the impact of technology on these processes. The discussion also covers significant cyber heists, the role of the Secret Service, and the implications of cryptocurrency in money laundering. White emphasizes the importance of understanding money laundering as a critical factor in various crimes affecting society today.

Episode Notes

Investigative journalist Geoff White explains how modern technology—from crypto to the dark web—has revolutionized money laundering for the world’s most dangerous criminals.

Guest bio: Geoff White is an investigative journalist, author, and podcast creator with over 20 years of experience reporting on cybercrime, global fraud, and financial corruption.

Covered topics:

• The three stages of money laundering: placement, layering, and integration
• Pablo Escobar and the evolution of laundering from cash to crypto
• North Korea’s $2B cybercrime spree and the Axie Infinity hack
• The rise of mixers like Tornado Cash and debates over financial privacy
• Origins of the dark web (Tor) and Bitcoin’s cryptographic roots
• Tax havens, shell companies, and the offshore economy
• The global scale of illicit finance and why money laundering enables everyday crime

📺Watch the full episode on YouTube➡️ https://youtu.be/j9jmkSlRRPM