Mr. Garren Hamilton
San Francisco, CA 94108
Office: 415-856-9957
Expert witness for DeFi, smart contract and cryptocurrency disputes. Certified Smart Contract Auditor and former cybercrime detective.
"Every report I deliver is prepared on the assumption that I will defend it under oath, before a judge and jury."
Garren Hamilton gives expert evidence in disputes where decentralized finance and digital assets are at the center of the case. As a Certified Smart Contract Auditor who has completed Duke University's specialization in decentralized finance, he can establish what a smart contract's code actually did, explain it clearly to a judge or jury, and follow the funds through DeFi protocols and decentralized exchanges to the wallets and exchanges where they came to rest.
He learned to trace digital assets as a cybercrime detective, where every finding had to withstand defense scrutiny, and brings the same discipline to private practice. Every step is documented and reproducible, so opposing experts can test it and the court can rely on it.
He has given evidence in trials and other contested legal proceedings for 22 years: first as a detective and law enforcement expert witness in organized crime trials, and since 2020 as an independent cryptocurrency expert. His expert work covers matters in the USA, UK, Australia and Hong Kong, and includes a US deposition, trial testimony, and appointment as a Single Joint Expert (instructed by both parties) in UK litigation.
- Cryptocurrency
- Cybercrime
- Q: Please list your professional accreditations, degrees, licenses, and certificates granted:
- A: Master of Cyber Security, University of New South Wales
Master of Leadership & Management, Charles Sturt University
Bachelor of Commerce, University of New South Wales
Bachelor of Policing, Charles Sturt University
Certified Smart Contract Auditor (Blockchain Council)
Specialization Certificate, Decentralized Finance (DeFi), Duke University (via Coursera), 2026
Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)
Certified AML Specialist (CAMS)
Certified Sanctions Specialist (CSS)
Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA)
Europol Cryptocurrency Investigation Program (CRYPTOPOL), 2021 - Q: Please list your affiliations or memberships in any professional and/or industry organizations:
- A: Expert Witness Institute (UK) - Associate Member
Blockchain Legal Institute (USA)
Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE)
Association of Certified AML Specialists (ACAMS)
Association of Certified Sanctions Specialists (ACSS)
High Tech Cyber Investigation Association - Q: Please list any teaching or speaking experience you have had, including subject matter:
- A: Teaching:
Post Graduate University Lecturer (Part-time), University of New South Wales, Australia
Courses include: Foundations of Organisational Cyber Security (MBA), Cyber Security Management and Governance, Data Security and Privacy, Cyber Security Bootcamp, and Cyber Security Leadership and Management Capstone.
Speaking (Selected):
“Cryptocurrency in Litigation”, accredited 1-hour CLE webinar for legal practitioners, 2026
Gave evidence twice (2024, 2026) to the Australian Joint Parliamentary Inquiry into the Capability of Law Enforcement to Respond to Cybercrime, Canberra, Australia
“Beyond the Bank Account - Investigating Cryptocurrency in Financial Crime”, IAFCI, Sydney, Australia, 2025
“Is Cryptocurrency Hidden in your Investigation”, ACFE, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 2025
“The Business of Cybercrime”, Gulf Information Security Expo & Conference, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 2024
“Enhancing Cybercrime Investigation Capability”, Gulf Information Security Expo & Conference, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 2024
“Cybercrime and Cryptocurrency Money Laundering”, Pacific Financial Intelligence Community, 2022 - Q: Have any of your accreditations ever been investigated, suspended or removed? (if yes, explain)
- A: No
- Q: On how many occasions have you been retained as an expert?
- A: 69+
- Q: For what area(s) of expertise have you been retained as an expert?
- A: DeFi & Smart Contract Analysis, Cryptocurrency Tracing, Cryptocurrency Fraud, Cryptocurrency Investment Fraud, Blockchain Asset Tracing, Cryptocurrency Discovery & Exchange Records, Cryptocurrency Valuation, Money Laundering, Cybercrime, Expert Report Rebuttal
- Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the plaintiff?
- A: 40
- Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the defendant?
- A: 60
- Q: On how many occasions have you had your deposition taken?
- A: Once in USA
- Q: When was the last time you had your deposition taken?
- A: November 2025
- Q: On how many occasions have you been qualified by a court to give expert testimony?
- A: 69+
- Q: On how many occasions have you testified as an expert in court or before an arbitrator?
- A: 6+
- Q: For how many years have you worked with the legal industry as an expert?
- A: 15
- Q: What services do you offer? (E.g.: consulting, testing, reports, site inspections etc.)
- A: Consulting (non-testifying) and testifying expert services; early case assessment; blockchain tracing and asset tracing reports; review and rebuttal of opposing expert reports; cryptocurrency discovery and subpoena support; deposition and trial testimony.
- Q: What is your hourly rate to consult with an attorney?
- A: Available upon request
- Q: What is your hourly rate to review documents?
- A: Available upon request
- Q: What is your hourly rate to provide deposition testimony?
- A: Available upon request
- Q: What is your hourly rate to provide testimony at trial?
- A: Available upon request
- Q: Please list any fees other than those stated above (E.g.: travel expenses, copy fees, etc.)
- A: Reasonable travel expenses ex San Francisco, London or Sydney.
Available Upon Request