How ZachXBT's Crypto Investigation Led to FBI's $260K Chase Senecal Seizure

In a milestone collaboration between blockchain investigators and law enforcement, pseudonymous crypto sleuth ZachXBT played a pivotal role in exposing Chase Senecal, a criminal operator behind a sophisticated network of NFT and cryptocurrency theft operations. Following ZachXBT’s extensive chain analysis and investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation executed a major asset seizure in October 2022, confiscating over $260,000 in digital and physical assets linked to Chase Senecal’s criminal enterprise.

The Blockchain Detective Uncovers a Crypto Crime Ring

ZachXBT, operating under the pseudonym of a self-described crypto detective, spent months meticulously tracking transaction flows and linking blockchain addresses to a coordinated attack network. The investigation eventually converged on Chase Senecal, also known online as “HZ” or “Horror,” a Brunswick, Maine resident orchestrating one of the crypto ecosystem’s most ambitious heist operations.

In a September 1 tweet, ZachXBT announced the breakthrough: “It’s wonderful to know one of the key perpetrators for NFT/crypto phishing assaults has been discovered after months and months of following their gang.” The crypto detective had successfully pieced together the puzzle that authorities would act upon just weeks later.

How the Phishing Operation Worked: Chase Senecal’s Attack Method

The criminal methodology behind Chase Senecal’s operation centered on SIM swapping—a technique where attackers gain control of a target’s phone number to hijack social media accounts. Court documents reveal that in June 2022, an individual known as “Cam” sold Twitter panel access to Senecal, granting him credentials to compromise high-profile NFT holders’ accounts.

Armed with this access, Chase Senecal and his network executed systematic phishing attacks, targeting Discord servers and Twitter accounts belonging to prominent NFT projects and creators. The stolen funds were then converted into tangible assets—most notably an $41,000 Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Watch, which inadvertently became the trail of breadcrumbs leading back to the perpetrator.

The Federal Seizure: What the FBI Confiscated From Chase Senecal

When the FBI acted on ZachXBT’s investigation on October 24, 2022, they seized a substantial haul of crypto and digital assets:

• 86.5678 ETH (valued at approximately $116,433 at the time of seizure)
• Bored Ape Yacht Club #9658 (appraised at $95,495)
• Doodle #3114 (valued at $9,361)
• One Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Watch ($41,000)

The seizure was documented in an official forfeiture document issued by the FBI on February 4, 2023, providing a rare public record of how crypto assets are handled in federal prosecutions. The specific assets seized demonstrate the sophistication of the criminal network—high-value blue-chip NFTs that Senecal had purchased with stolen funds.

Chase Senecal and the Broader Crypto Attack Network

What made Chase Senecal’s operation particularly significant was its scale and coordination. ZachXBT’s investigation revealed that Senecal was part of a multi-million-dollar crypto operation that compromised over 600 Discord servers and 12 Twitter accounts. The network’s targets included NFT project JRNY Club and animator DeeKay Kwon, among many others.

ZachXBT later detailed the scope in a Twitter thread, stating: “As a consequence of my investigation, the FBI seized crypto, BAYC 9658, AP watch, and Doodle 3114 from the phishing scammer known as Horror alias Chase Senecal.” The blockchain sleuth emphasized that his chain analysis directly enabled law enforcement’s decisive action against the perpetrator.

The Significance of Civilian-Led Crypto Investigation

While the FBI has not formally issued a public statement crediting ZachXBT’s work, the timing between the investigator’s September announcement and the October seizure suggests the agency took his findings seriously. This case exemplifies an emerging trend in the crypto ecosystem: civilian researchers and blockchain detectives complementing official law enforcement efforts by providing forensic analysis that traditional agencies might lack.

The Chase Senecal seizure underscores a critical lesson for the crypto community—even sophisticated criminals operating across encrypted networks and pseudonymous addresses leave traceable on-chain footprints. ZachXBT’s work demonstrates that dedicated researchers can follow the money, identify perpetrators, and ultimately assist in bringing them to justice.