For private clients facing substantial crypto theft or fraud

Crypto recovery for substantial losses

When a significant part of your wealth has been stolen, you need a clear view of where the assets went, whether they can be reached and what pursuing recovery would involve. Recoveris investigates the loss and supports the coordinated action needed to pursue their return.

Based in Zug, Switzerland, our team brings together blockchain investigators, former law-enforcement officers and professionals with legal experience. We trace funds, document findings and work with your counsel, exchanges and authorities as the case requires. Start with a confidential review of your circumstances.

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Swiss-based forensic investigation and recovery supportUpdated 16 September 2026

Experience with losses measured in millions

Case results

A meaningful case result explains what happened to the money and who was able to act. These published matters show different stages of that process.

RECOVERY

USD 10.5M Swiss investment-fraud case

A Swiss company was deceived into transferring cryptocurrency to a false investment opportunity. Recoveris’s investigators followed the money across wallets and networks and coordinated action with Tether and Bitfinex to secure the value.

Swiss authorities advanced the criminal case. Tether then destroyed the frozen tokens and issued equivalent value to an address designated by the authorities as part of the return process.

The case shows why tracing, preserving assets and pursuing their return need to work together.

Read how the Swiss recovery unfolded

FROZEN AND PRESERVED

Over USD 1.7M preserved after fake-investor fraud

One victim was targeted twice by people posing as wealthy investors, losing approximately USD 2.7M. Recoveris followed the assets across blockchains and supported action by law enforcement, token issuers and service providers.

More than USD 1.7M was frozen and preserved across the incidents. This outcome protected assets for further action; the detailed case account does not establish a completed return to the victim.

For a client assessing their options, that distinction matters: locating funds, freezing them and receiving them back are separate milestones.

Read the published case account

Sources: Recoveris’s published case accounts. Client identities are withheld where appropriate. These are individual outcomes, not a recovery rate or a prediction for your case.

Know who you are trusting with your case

You should be able to verify the people behind a recovery firm. Our leadership and investigations team bring experience in financial crime, legal practice and cooperation with public authorities.

Marcin Zarakowski

CEO

Attorney-at-law specialising in blockchain investigations and digital asset recovery, and Virtual Asset Expert at OSCE.

Marcin’s professional profile

Umberto Buonora

Head of Investigations

Former Guardia di Finanza investigator with more than 14 years of experience. Led the investigative team in the Swiss USD 10.5M case.

Umberto’s professional profile

Sol Cinosi

Chief Government & Corporate Affairs Officer

Attorney with more than 10 years in criminal investigations. Co-created the specialised cryptoasset investigation task force at the Buenos Aires prosecutor’s office.

Sol’s professional profile

These profiles illustrate the wider team’s experience. The people assigned to your matter depend on its scope; legal representation is a separate engagement.

Expertise you can verify independently

EY Switzerland identifies Recoveris as a technical service provider for its Distributed Ledger Analysis offering, supporting blockchain analysis and digital asset forensics. That collaboration concerns compliance and onboarding work; it does not imply EY’s involvement in your recovery case.

Read EY’s account of the collaboration

Is your large crypto loss worth pursuing?

A substantial loss can justify a detailed investigation, but the amount alone does not establish a recovery route. The review needs to answer what can realistically be done and whether the likely costs are proportionate.

THE ASSET PATH

Where did the money go?

We assess the known transactions, the networks involved and whether the trail can be followed. Assets moving across several wallets or chains may still leave useful leads.

THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACT

Who could preserve or return value?

An exchange holding assets or a stablecoin issuer may offer a point of intervention. Finding that point is a starting condition; the evidence and applicable process determine what can happen next.

THE WHOLE LOSS

Are all affected holdings accounted for?

A loss may involve personal accounts, family holdings, a company or transfers through several platforms. Understanding who owned the assets and how the payments connect avoids pursuing an incomplete picture.

THE COMMERCIAL DECISION

Does further work make sense?

The review considers the amount at stake, time elapsed, available records, countries involved and possible next steps. You need a reasoned basis for committing further money, including a clear view of the limitations.

Request a confidential case review

How an investigation supports the return of your assets

Review the circumstances

Provide a summary of the loss and the records you have. The initial review considers whether a fuller investigation is justified and what questions it needs to resolve.

Trace and document the funds

If you proceed, the agreed investigation follows the asset movements and documents findings that can support exchange engagement, a police investigation or legal action.

Support action at the right point

Where an actionable lead exists, we support coordination with relevant services, counsel and authorities. An exchange or issuer controls its response; formal measures may require legal or law-enforcement authority.

Pursue return through the applicable process

Restrained assets may be returned through a legal, law-enforcement or settlement process. Recoveris supports that work with investigative findings and further analysis where needed. Timing and outcome depend on the case.

Working with a lawyer

Recoveris is a blockchain intelligence and investigation company. If your matter requires court action or legal representation, qualified counsel handles that work. You can involve your existing lawyer from the start, with instructions and information sharing agreed around your case.

A clear scope before you commit to paid work

Initial review and investigation fees

The initial case review is free. If you proceed with a full investigation, Recoveris provides a written proposal setting out the scope and fee before work begins, invoiced by Recoveris AG in Switzerland. Professional investigation is paid work; the fee is not a guarantee of recovery.

The wider cost of pursuing recovery

If the proposed route involves lawyers, court proceedings or work in another jurisdiction, ask for those costs and responsibilities to be explained before committing. Compare the expected expenditure with the assets that may be reachable and the uncertainty of the process.

Keep your case and wider holdings private

A substantial loss can expose more than the stolen balance. Wallet details may reveal other holdings, family relationships or company activity. Keep exact balances and strategy out of public posts, and share case records through agreed channels with verified professionals.

You can involve your lawyer or authorised adviser in the enquiry. Agree who may receive information and how sensitive documents will be transferred. Counsel should advise on legal privilege where relevant; confidentiality alone does not create it.

We never need seed phrases, private keys, account passwords or one-time codes to trace stolen funds. Be wary of anyone claiming that a further crypto payment will unlock money already recovered.

If the theft or fraud has just happened

Stop further payments to the suspected fraudster, protect unaffected accounts using a clean device, and preserve transaction records and communications. Notify the relevant exchange or bank through its official channel and report the incident to the appropriate authority. Start the review with what you have and identify any gaps.

Follow the first-24-hours guidance. If an account or device remains compromised, seek qualified security help alongside the recovery work.

Questions before requesting a review

FAQ

Can a substantial crypto loss be recovered?

Recovery may be possible when the assets can be traced to a party or mechanism capable of preserving and returning value. The transaction path, evidence, time elapsed and available legal options matter more than the loss amount alone. A review can assess those conditions, but cannot guarantee the outcome.

Do I need a lawyer before contacting Recoveris?

You can request an initial case review without first appointing a lawyer. If a proposed next step requires legal advice or court action, qualified counsel will need to handle it. If you already have a lawyer, they can coordinate contact and instructions with your authorisation.

How much does investigating a large crypto loss cost?

The initial case review is free. A full investigation is paid work, with scope and fees set out in a written proposal before you proceed. Costs depend on the complexity of the asset path and the work required. Any legal representation or proceedings should be scoped and costed separately.

How long could recovery take?

Where the conditions allow, preserving assets can be time-sensitive. Returning them is a separate process that may take months or longer, depending on the services, authorities and legal proceedings involved. A credible assessment should distinguish urgent action from the likely duration of the whole case.

What information should I provide for a confidential case review?

Provide the approximate loss, incident date, assets and platforms involved, transaction hashes or wallet addresses where available, and a short account of what happened. Mention any existing reports and professional advisers. You do not need to disclose your wider net worth. Never provide seed phrases, private keys, passwords or one-time codes.

Is an older high-value crypto loss still worth assessing?

It can be. Blockchain records may still reveal an identifiable service or later movement of funds, although delay can reduce the options and make other records harder to obtain. The decision should depend on the actual asset path, evidence and potential cost of further work.

Confidential review of a substantial loss

Understand your options before deciding what to do next

Start with the approximate amount lost, when it happened, the assets involved and any transaction records you have. Mention any police report, existing investigator or lawyer. Do not send access credentials.

Request a confidential case review

Recovery is never guaranteed. Recoveris provides blockchain investigation and recovery support, not legal representation. This page concerns assets lost to theft or fraud, not market losses or forgotten wallet passwords. Legal advice and representation must be agreed separately with qualified counsel.