Nicolas Turnbull | Expert Cryptocurrency Engineer & Legal Witness New Zealand

About Me

Kia ora! I'm Nicolas Turnbull, a fellow entrepreneur and cryptocurrency enthusiast based in Ōtautahi Christchurch. I'm the co-founder of both Cryptocurrency NZ and Crypto Consulting NZ, two platforms built to empower Kiwis through education, hands-on support, and safe crypto practices.

With years of experience navigating the crypto landscape, I've worked with individuals, businesses, and communities across Aotearoa, helping them recover wallets, understand blockchain tech, and gain confidence managing digital assets. I'm passionate about making crypto accessible, transparent, and tailored to real-world use.

Whether you're brand new to the space or knee-deep in a tricky situation, I'm here to help you cut through the noise and take full ownership of your journey into Web3.

Nicolas Turnbull speaking at Cryptocurrency NZ meetup

Projects

Co-Founder & Consultant

Jan 2024 - Present | Crypto Consulting NZ

At Crypto Consulting NZ, I work directly with clients across New Zealand, offering crypto wallet recovery, scam analysis, and one-on-one onboarding. I also support legal cases by preparing expert witness reports, analysing blockchain transactions, and consulting on crypto-related disputes in the Disputes Tribunal and other legal settings.

Co-Founder & Chief Financial Officer

Oct 2021 - Present | Cryptocurrency NZ

As the co-founder and CFO of Cryptocurrency NZ, I've played an integral role in building one of Aotearoa's largest and most trusted crypto education platforms. I've helped shape strategy, develop community resources, and drive growth across our online presence, connecting thousands of Kiwis with trustworthy information, tools, and support.

Experience & Awards

Recent Legal Case Highlights

2025 | Expert Witness & Forensic Analysis

Family Court • Auckland • $2.1M Cryptocurrency Discovery:
Successfully traced and valued concealed Bitcoin and Ethereum holdings across multiple wallets and DeFi protocols during complex relationship property proceedings. Expert testimony resulted in fair asset division and court-ordered disclosure.

High Court • Auckland • $800K Murder Trial:
Provided technical analysis and court testimony on blockchain transactions in a major murder trial. Our forensic work established the movement of cryptocurrency linked to the case and identified relevant wallets, while assisting the Crown and Ministry of Justice in interpreting complex blockchain evidence.

District Court • Auckland • $500K Bitcoin & Crypto Fraud Case:
Provided forensic cryptocurrency analysis and expert testimony in a Bitcoin and crypto fraud case. Our investigation traced the flow of misappropriated funds across multiple wallets and exchanges, helping interpret complex blockchain data for the court.

Awards & Recognition

2024 | Web3 Awards New Zealand

Company of the Year: Recognized for outstanding contributions to the New Zealand cryptocurrency and Web3 ecosystem, demonstrating leadership in education, innovation, and community building within the digital asset space.

Cryptocurrency Asset Recovery

2019 - Present | $1.3M+ Recovered

I've recovered over 1.3 Million New Zealand dollars in lost Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency assets. Recently tackled a complex wallet recovery case in Auckland involving an outdated MacBook laptop and early Bitcoin Core software wallet with no seed phrase available. Through innovative problem-solving and persistence, we successfully recovered $400,000 NZD in assets, including Bitcoin and its associated Bitcoin Cash airdrop.

Our team goes beyond recovery, leveraging deep crypto expertise to maximize value for our clients. We secure recovered assets and provide comprehensive guidance on safe storage practices.

National Crypto Meetups

Jan 2021 - Present | Christchurch

I help coordinate and host over 10 cryptocurrency meetups across New Zealand each month, in partnership with Cryptocurrency NZ. These events draw an average of 215+ attendees nationwide and have secured $30,000+ in sponsorship support, bringing the local crypto community together through education and networking.

GPU Mining

Jan 2019 - Present

I began my crypto mining journey in early 2019, building and optimizing my own GPU mining rig to maximize performance and energy efficiency. This evolved into consulting others on hardware, profitability tracking, and security.