Chainalysis Acquires Alterya in $150M Deal to Bolster Fraud Prevention

Blockchain analytics powerhouse Chainalysis has acquired Israeli startup Alterya for an estimated $150 million. Alterya, a specialist in preventing authorized-push-payment (APP) fraud within cryptocurrency and real-time payment networks, was founded in 2022 and swiftly rose to prominence, leveraging its expertise in early detection of sophisticated scams often using AI-produced synthetic identities. The acquisition, which follows Chainalysis' recent purchase of Hexagate, positions the company to expand its reach in Israel due to the locale's technological talent pool and enhances its product line dedicated to combating capital loss and fraud in the burgeoning crypto space. Both founding members of Alterya, Elad Fouks and Shahaf Gonen, bring their expertise from elite Israeli military units and Google to Chainalysis, assuring the continuity of Alterya's operations. Meanwhile, Jonathan Levin, Chainalysis' co-founder, highlights the supportive political shifts within the U.S. that favor crypto enterprises and emphasizes the symbiotic potential of this acquisition in addressing the complexities of scam prevention. The acquisition also signals strategic moves by Chainalysis to bolster its workforce and capabilities in a region known for technological innovation.