Africa Crypto & Asset Recovery Network
The Africa Crypto & Asset Recovery Network is a fast-growing regional community for public-sector practitioners working on crypto-related financial crime and asset recovery.
Led by the Basel Institute on Governance through its International Centre for Asset Recovery, the network brings together investigators, prosecutors, financial intelligence specialists and other public officials to discuss real cases, strengthen operational skills and build trusted connections across borders.
The network already includes around 160 practitioners from 20 African countries. Its rapid growth reflects strong demand for practical, regionally relevant exchange on how to investigate crypto-enabled crime and recover illicit cryptoassets.
Practical exchange rooted in African experience
The network is built around the experience, expertise and innovation of African practitioners. It provides a space to share not only the challenges encountered in real investigations, but also the creative approaches, practical solutions and new techniques being developed across the continent.
Sessions are led by practitioners and experts with direct operational experience.
They explore issues such as identifying crypto-related illicit activity, tracing transactions, obtaining information from service providers, securing evidence and freezing or recovering assets. They also showcase successful cases and locally developed approaches that can help practitioners in other jurisdictions.
What the network offers
- Case-based discussions Practitioners examine real investigations, compare approaches and share lessons from their own jurisdictions.
- Technical learning Training and expert sessions respond to practical needs identified by members, including crypto investigations, evidence, cooperation with service providers and the recovery and safe management of cryptoassets.
- Regional peer exchange Regular interaction helps practitioners build trusted professional relationships and identify counterparts across Africa.
- In-person opportunities Members also have opportunities to meet alongside relevant international and regional events. In September 2026, around 45 African practitioners will take part in a dedicated workshop in Luxembourg organised with the EU-funded SecFin Africa project as a side event to the 10th Global Conference on Criminal Finances and Cryptoassets.
Why it matters
Cryptoasset use is expanding across Africa, including for payments, remittances and access to financial services. Criminal actors are also making increasing use of cryptoassets in fraud, money laundering, terrorist financing and other cross-border crimes.
Public authorities need practical skills, access to relevant experience and trusted regional contacts to respond effectively. The network helps practitioners learn from cases across the continent, strengthen operational capacity and improve cooperation between jurisdictions.
Selected activities may also involve relevant private-sector specialists where their expertise can support public-sector learning. The network remains firmly practitioner-led and focused on the needs of public authorities.
Funding and support
The network is supported through Basel Institute resources plus sponsorship from selected private-sector organisations committed to strengthening law enforcement capacity in Africa to address crypto-related financial crime.
We are grateful to our first sponsors, Kodex, Asset Reality, Tradias, VerifyVASP, Coinbase, TRM Labs and CAT Labs.
Sponsors do not influence membership, topic selection or the operational direction of the network.
Learn more
Get in touch
For more information about the Africa Crypto & Asset Recovery Network, contact Monica Guy at the Basel Institute on Governance.
Featured resources
Online course: Introduction to blockchain
Learn the fundamentals of blockchain technology, crypto investigations and anti-money laundering compliance.
10th Global Conference on Criminal Finances and Cryptoassets
Join hundreds of practitioners to share experiences, learn from each other and strengthen responses to fast-evolving risks in the crypto and wider digital finance space.