Media Release
The blockchain detective: Meet the crypto forensic accountant catching crooks
Meticulously tracking and tracing the flow of cryptocurrency on blockchains may sound arduous – even to those who know what it means, but for Abigail Gibson, this precise and methodical task gives her great joy.
“I love detailed work. Explaining to people what I think has happened in a way they can understand is one of my greatest achievements,” Ms Gibson said.
Since 2022, she’s worked in the AFP’s highly capable cryptocurrency team as a specialist cryptocurrency forensic accountant, assisting criminal investigations and the Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce.
Her days are spent trawling through blockchains, analysing data, preparing reports and attending court as an expert witness.
And it’s a skill that is only becoming more important as criminals turn to cryptocurrency to try and hide ill-gotten gains.
Blockchains are public digital ledgers that record data such as cryptocurrency transactions which occur outside the normal banking system.
These ledgers are filled with transaction dates, times, codes, values and blockchain addresses, which provide clues as to who is moving and receiving cryptocurrency.
Their use has rapidly increased over the years since Bitcoin was first created in 2009.
“Cryptocurrency transactions stay in ledgers forever and are visible to the whole world,” Ms Gibson said.
“These ledgers do not require the usual forms of identification to move cryptocurrency between addresses, but there are clues if you know how and where to look. I'm looking for information that links an individual to funds from activities such as scams, fraud, money laundering, or sales of illicit goods and services on darknet markets. I’m also proving real world assets were bought with criminal proceeds.”
When Ms Gibson joined the AFP’s cryptocurrency team, a Bitcoin cost about $USD31,000 ($AUD44,000). As of December, 2025, one Bitcoin is valued at $USD90,600 (AUD $135,000).*
Ms Gibson said criminals used cryptocurrency due to its pseudo-anonymity, speed, global reach, and potential to avoid law enforcement detection.
“This area is fast paced and constantly changing, however, our cryptocurrency team has the skills and capability to keep up with new and evolving criminal applications of blockchain technology,” Ms Gibson said.
“The AFP encourages and conducts regular training and networking with domestic and international law enforcement partners to share knowledge. I am constantly learning and upskilling every day, and have worked with law enforcement partners in Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia.
“In June, 2025, I was lucky to enough to travel to The Hague for a EUROPOL cryptocurrency conference with attendees from 44 countries and spent time meeting cryptocurrency investigators from other nations discussing and sharing best practice in cryptocurrency investigations.”
After studying accounting in university, Ms Gibson worked in insolvency and forensic accounting.
She joined the AFP in 2017 when there were nine forensic accountants. Today there are more than 25 who target financial crime and criminals who seek to obfuscate their profits.
During her career, Ms Gibson estimates she has examined the company accounts of more than 400 businesses and worked on more than 200 financial crime and proceeds of crime matters, ranging from money laundering and company phoenixing, to tax avoidance and fraud.
“I once made a short animation to explain the flow of funds to the court in a complex phoenixing matter – I love problem solving and thinking outside the box,” she said.
“Some of the problems aren’t financial. Sometimes the problem is how do I explain this complex information to non-financial people?”
When she isn’t following the money, Ms Gibson takes Japanese lessons, with the hope she can use the language to collaborate with Japanese law enforcement and prosecutors who are experienced in cryptocurrency investigations.
*CoinMarketCap Bitcoin Price History
