In early January 2023 Chris Horlacher sat with Rafael LaVerde of The Crypto Vigilante for a first full public account of Equibit Group — federal R&D, blockchain securities, collapse, and the decision to sue.
Host: cryptovigilante.io
The conversation covers the company’s federally recognized R&D efforts in blockchain securities tech, the events that led to its downfall, evidence of interference, and the pursuit of justice through the courts. It offers strong insights into the crypto industry’s risks and realities. LaVerde’s search for official links to include in the show description led to the discovery of the first impersonation website at equibit.io.
Watch the Interview
Rafael LaVerde
Rafael LaVerde is the lead writer and researcher behind The Crypto Vigilante, known for independent crypto analysis, education, and exposing issues in the space. His work emphasizes informed decision-making and vigilance in digital assets.
Place in the Equibit Lawsuit
This interview predates most of the public file. The two actions then on foot were CV-20-00645492-0000 and CV-21-00654929-0000. The impersonation site discovered while LaVerde prepared the episode is now pleaded in CV-26-00017856-0000. See Six Key Facts About the Impersonation Websites and the Namecheap / equibit.io record.
This interview stands out for its crypto-specific lens, detailing how Equibit’s privacy-focused protocols could have transformed securities markets and why that may have invited powerful opposition. Valuable for understanding systemic risks in fintech innovation.
