DEA and NPCC Adopt Chainalysis Rapid to Streamline Crypto Investigations

Law enforcement agencies are escalating their crypto-tracking capabilities. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.K.’s National Police Chiefs’ Council have integrated Chainalysis Rapid into their investigative workflows, targeting the growing volume of cryptocurrency-related cases.

Frontline officers now scan blockchain addresses in real time, assessing links to darknet markets or sanctioned entities within seconds. The tool resurrects cold cases too—revealing transaction histories and balance snapshots that previously required specialist expertise.

Investigative bottlenecks are crumbling. Where limited tools once constrained the NPCC’s crypto caseload, automated analysis slashes preliminary inquiry times. ‘This isn’t just about speed,’ says DEA Task Force Officer Chad Martin. ‘It’s about making every patrol officer a potential crypto investigator.’