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Crypto-
currency
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Incitement
8
Illicit cryptocurrency transactions reached $24.2 billion worldwide in
2023
6
. While this represents less than 1% of the total worldwide value
of cryptocurrency transactions, these illicit transactions have an outsize
impact by fueling many types of serious crime.
Time till mainstream adoption: TODAY
Blockchain analysis- Investigators can use blockchain analysis solutions to
analyze, identify and cluster data from blockchain public ledgers. These tools
model and visually represent data to help investigators identify key information
about suspicious users and transactions. In certain cases, investigators can
successfully breach the anonymity of crypto if they follow the money trail of
transactions to mainstream exchanges which enforce Know Your Customer (KYC)
regulations and then obtain the account holder’s identity.
Blockchain analytics for de-anonymization- Criminals often employ the use of
mixers and shapeshifters, stealth addresses, chain and asset swapping, privacy-
enhanced communication, and privacy wallets to hide their identities. Instead
of using mainstream exchanges, they often “cash out” through illicit exchanges
or decentralized, peer-to-peer exchanges, and use non-custodial wallets. In
the case of non-custodial wallets, also known as unhosted wallets, no entity
enforces KYC regulations and only the wallet owner has the private keys which
enable accessing and transferring funds.
Technology capabilities needed:
Authorities may detect that a non-custodial wallet is associated with
illicit activity, but without the right blockchain analytics solutions they
cannot determine who is the owner of the wallet and have no way to
seize the funds.
Crypto-
currency
Total Cryptocurrency Value Received by Illicit Addresses
Source: Chainalysis 2024
$24.2B
2023
$39.6B
2022 2021
$23.2B
Sanctioned entity
Terrorism financing
Sanctioned jurisdiction
FTX creditor claims (fraud)
Cybercriminal administrator
Ransomware
Stolen funds
Darknet market
Scam
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