Cryptocurrency expert witness.
Independent expert evidence on crypto for courts in New Zealand and Australia, and US instructions through Crypto Consulting USA. Tracing, wallet attribution and valuation, written for the court and tested under cross-examination.
Courts I've given evidence in
Details are anonymised. The case work page has the full write-ups.
Criminal and civil
Homicide trial instructed by the Crown, with jury-facing evidence and cross-examination at trial. Also civil enforcement and relationship property reports.
Criminal, defence-instructed
Independent report on the on-chain evidence the prosecution relied on, with oral evidence by audio-visual link at trial.
Property and relationship property
Concealed crypto uncovered and disclosed in Australian property settlements, worth AUD 500,000 to AUD 5 million per matter. Tracing and valuation in NZ, including oral evidence.
Disputed transfer
On-chain reconstruction of a disputed cryptocurrency transfer, with evidence given by audio-visual link.
What I give evidence on
Tracing
Where funds went, hop by hop, across wallets, exchanges, bridges and mixers. See crypto tracing.
Wallet attribution
Who controls a wallet, using clustering, exchange records and behaviour over time.
Valuation
What holdings were worth on the dates that matter: separation, hearing, loss, death or appointment.
Undisclosed holdings
Whether a party holds crypto they haven't disclosed, and how much.
Exchange records
Reading exchange statements and subpoenaed records, and reconciling them with the blockchain.
Technical explanation
How blockchains, wallets and keys work, explained so a judge or jury can follow.
Scams and laundering
How a scheme moved money, and whether the patterns match known scam and laundering typologies.
Access and recovery
Whether a wallet could have been accessed, and what happened to keys, devices and seed phrases.
Reviewing the other expert
Testing another expert's methods and conclusions, and preparing a responsive report.
Independent, and written for the court
An expert's duty is to the court, not to whoever is paying. My reports are written to the expert codes of conduct that apply where the matter is heard, including Schedule 4 of the High Court Rules in New Zealand and the Federal Court's Expert Evidence Practice Note in Australia, with the equivalent state court and family law rules.
That means stating my qualifications and the limits of my expertise, setting out every assumption, showing how each conclusion was reached, and saying where the evidence runs out. Every transaction in a report has its ID, so the other side can check the work themselves. I act for prosecution and defence, applicants and respondents.
The tracing runs on software I built in-house, so I can explain exactly how any wallet was attributed or any hop was followed. There's no vendor black box to be cross-examined about.
How to instruct me
First call
A short conversation about the matter and its deadlines, plus a conflict check.
Letter of instruction
You set out the questions for the expert and send the material you hold.
Scope and fee estimate
A written scope, timeline and fee estimate before any work starts.
Analysis
Tracing, attribution and valuation, documented as the work is done.
Report
A signed expert report written to the applicable code of conduct, with a plain-English summary.
Evidence
Conferral or a joint report with the other expert if needed, then evidence in person or by video link.
Fees and turnaround
For Australian matters, hourly rates typically range from $300 to $500 AUD plus GST. A scoped expert report is usually $5,000 to $25,000 depending on the volume of transactions and the questions asked, with court attendance on top. Every engagement starts with a written fee estimate.
A recent ACT Supreme Court report took about three weeks from instruction to final report. Urgent work, such as tracing ahead of a freezing order application, can be prioritised.
For a longer read on admissibility, reports and cross-examination, see my guide to crypto expert witnesses in Australia.
Expert witness questions
Can you act as a single expert in a Family Court matter?
Yes. Family courts in Australia and New Zealand often prefer one expert instructed by both parties, and I can be instructed that way. A single expert works for the court, not either party, so both sides get the same report at the same time.
Do you act for both prosecution and defence?
Yes. I've been instructed by the Crown in New Zealand and by the defence in Australia. An expert who only ever works for one side is easy to attack on independence, and my duty is to the court either way.
Can you give evidence remotely?
Yes. I've given evidence by audio-visual link, for example in the NZ Disputes Tribunal, and I can attend in person when the court requires it.
How much does a crypto expert witness cost?
For Australian matters, hourly rates typically range from $300 to $500 AUD plus GST, and a scoped expert report is usually $5,000 to $25,000 depending on complexity, with court attendance on top. You get a written scope and fee estimate before any work starts.
How long does an expert report take?
It depends on the volume of transactions and the questions asked. As a guide, a recent ACT Supreme Court matter took about three weeks from instruction to final report. Tell me your court deadlines at the first call and I'll say straight away whether they're workable.
Do you take instructions from the United States?
Yes. US instructions are handled through Crypto Consulting USA, for American law firms and clients.
What do you need to get started?
A short summary of the matter, the parties (for a conflict check), the questions you want answered, any court deadlines, and whatever crypto information you already hold: exchange statements, wallet addresses or transaction IDs.
Read next
Expert evidence across three countries
Instructions are taken through the practice in your jurisdiction. Get in touch here and I'll point you to the right one.
Crypto Consulting AU
Expert witness reports and court support for Australian law firms.
Visit siteCrypto Consulting NZ
Expert evidence and blockchain forensics for New Zealand matters.
Visit siteCrypto Consulting USA
Expert witness support for American clients and law firms.
Visit site