Nimiq Unveils SynapTrack AML Framework to Combat Cross-Chain Crypto Laundering

TheNewsCryptoPublished on 2026-02-25Last updated on 2026-02-25

Abstract

Nimiq has introduced SynapTrack, a next-generation anti-money laundering (AML) framework designed to combat cross-chain crypto laundering. Developed in collaboration with researchers from the University of Birmingham, the system uses blockchain-aware pattern analysis and a self-improving algorithm to track illicit fund flows across multiple blockchains with high accuracy and significantly fewer false positives. During testing with real-world data from the 2025 Bybit breach, SynapTrack achieved a false-positive rate of less than 2%. The framework is now open for feedback and collaboration from developers, researchers, and the crypto community via https://synaptrack.co.uk/.

The introduction of SynapTrack, a next-generation anti–money laundering (AML) framework for blockchain systems, was announced by Nimiq today. SynapTrack is meant to monitor illegal fund transfers more quickly and with fewer false positives, while also automatically responding to emerging criminal methods.

At the CyberASAP Demo Day, which took place on February 25 in London, researchers from the University of Birmingham presented SynapTrack to the audience. While the event was taking place, the team provided an overview of how the system may be used to facilitate investigations in cross-chain laundering scenarios. These are situations in which funds are transferred across networks or distributed over many chains in order to conceal their origin. As a result of the presentation that took place in London, SynapTrack is now available for input and cooperation from developers, academics, and the wider crypto community. In order to collaborate, please visit the following website: https://synaptrack.co.uk/

Built for the hardest part of blockchain investigations: cross-chain flows

When funds flow across chains, pass through bridges, or divide into several pathways, it becomes substantially more difficult to track down illegal conduct. Blockchains, on the other hand, give transparency at the ledger level. Using blockchain-aware pattern analysis and a self-improving algorithm that continually improves its detection logic when adversaries alter tactics, SynapTrack v1 is designed to take into account these realities.

Reduce the number of false positives in order to unblock investigations

A great number of monitoring strategies are able to identify suspicious trends; however, they also produce a significant number of false signals that need to be manually assessed, which results in operational bottlenecks. With SynapTrack, investigators are able to pick the leads that are most significant since it has a far lower false-positive rate than other similar products.

The first testing phase of SynapTrack was the use of real-world data that was associated with the 2025 Bybit breach, in which the perpetrators stole $1.5 billion worth of digital tokens. In this particular case, SynapTrack was able to track the activities of the attacker with a false positive rate that was lower than 2%.

Research-driven, engineering-ready

Nimiq has been working closely with academic and research efforts for a long time. Nimiq is known for implementing new technologies across the blockchain stack, always with a focus on making blockchain systems easy to use for developers and end users. SynapTrack is the result of research conducted by Dr. Pascal Berrang and PhD student Endong Liu at the University of Birmingham. SynapTrack was developed with implementation support and real-world blockchain constraints contributed by Nimiq.

Max Burger, Global Ecosystem Developer, Nimiq, said:

“SynapTrack is the first product milestone of a research-driven effort to make blockchain investigations more scalable, especially when laundering patterns evolve and cross-chain activity complicates analysis. We’re opening it up to developers, researchers, and the wider crypto community for testing, feedback, and collaborative improvement.”

Dr Pascal Berrang, University of Birmingham, said:

“The last few years have seen a near-exponential growth in blockchain transactions. While many of these are legitimate, blockchains are attractive to criminals as funds can be moved very quickly to other jurisdictions. Our work with Nimiq and the creation of SynapTrack is addressing this black spot, and will enable more effective regulation, making the whole ecosystem of blockchain safer and more trustworthy.”

Access and collaboration may be found at https://synaptrack.co.uk/.

SynapTrack is an adaptive investigative and anti-money laundering framework for blockchain systems that is meant to detect and track fund flows linked with illegal conduct, especially across cross-chain transactions. The system uses a self-improving detection technique to continually adapt to new strategies and dynamically rates the chance that transactions are part of laundering processes. Additionally, the system continuously adjusts to new strategies. The first version of SynapTrack was introduced in London on February 25, 2026, and it is currently available for assessment and cooperation by developers, academics, and the wider crypto community via the website https://synaptrack.co.uk/.

Nimiq is a blockchain initiative and technical team that is open-source and devoted to simplifying, making available, and using blockchain technology in a sensible manner. It is well known that Nimiq has continually worked closely with academic and research groups. Additionally, the company is recognized for methodically adopting new technologies throughout the blockchain stack. This is accomplished by combining stringent security measures with a strong emphasis on being user-friendly.

This work draws individuals from all over the globe to Birmingham, including researchers and professors, as well as more than 6,500 foreign students from almost 150 different countries. The University of Birmingham is rated among the top 100 universities in the world, and there are more than 6,500 international students studying there.

Researchers are able to develop their ideas into new businesses, services, and products that are able to satisfy the demands of the real world with the assistance of University of Birmingham Enterprise. We are also responsible for managing the University of Birmingham Enterprise Operating Divisions and the Academic Consultancy Service. In addition, we provide incubation services, as well as assistance for innovators and entrepreneurs via mentorship, guidance, and training.

CyberASAP, which stands for Cybersecurity Academic Startup Accelerator Program, is now in its ninth year. Its purpose is to facilitate the commercialization of academic cyber security research by means of a series of seminars, skills training, and industry interaction happening over the course of eleven months. The CyberASAP Demo Day is the finale of the CyberASAP program, which is a program that is administered by Innovate UK and is financed by the Department of Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT) of the United Kingdom.

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