Blockchain analysis

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Blockchain analysis is the process of inspecting, identifying, clustering, modeling and visually representing data on a cryptographic distributed-ledger known as a blockchain. The goal of blockchain analysis is discovering useful information about the different actors transacting in cryptocurrency. Analysis of public blockchains such as the bitcoin and ethereum is often conducted by private companies. Bitcoin has long been associated with the trade of illegal goods on the dark web; this has been the case since bitcoin became the standard currency on the now closed Silk Road.[1][2]

Cryptocurrency exchanges[]

Crypto currency exchanges are increasingly required by law to address the source of funds for crypto traders. Singapore, Japan, the USA are examples of countries that have passed laws that now require the exchanges to track the source of the crypto funds.[3][4][5]

Method[]

Data in most blockchains are public meaning that anyone can view the contents. By using common-spend clustering algorithms, it is possible to map the transactions of certain entities on the blockchain.[6] This is how criminals have been caught moving illicit funds using various cryptocurrencies.[7]

Uncovered[]

Blockchain analysis has played a role in several high interest cases. In 2018 an analysis of bitcoin transactions uncovered that there was a link between major cryptocurrency exchange BTC-e and Fancy Bear.[8] In 2019, a major website hosting child sexual abuse material was taken down by law enforcement who used block chain analysis techniques. [9]

References[]

  1. ^ Bradbury, Danny. "Silk Road and Beyond: Bitcoin's Complex Relationship With the Dark Web". The Balance. Retrieved 2019-05-28.
  2. ^ Arts and Humanities, Research Institute for (December 2013). "GDPO Situation Analysis Silk Road and Bitcoin" (PDF). GDPO.
  3. ^ Meiklejohn, Sarah; Pomarole, Marjori; Jordan, Grant; Levchenko, Kirill; McCoy, Damon; Voelker, Geoffrey M.; Savage, Stefan (23 October 2013). "A fistful of bitcoins: characterizing payments among men with no names". Proceedings of the 2013 Conference on Internet Measurement Conference. Imc '13: 127–140. doi:10.1145/2504730.2504747. ISBN 9781450319539. S2CID 2224198.
  4. ^ Staff, Global Legal Research Directorate (June 2018). "Regulation of Cryptocurrency Around the World". www.loc.gov. Retrieved 2019-05-28.
  5. ^ PricewaterhouseCoopers. "Carving up crypto: Regulators begin to find their footing". PwC. Retrieved 2019-05-28.
  6. ^ Spagnuolo, Michele; Maggi, Federico; Zanero, Stefano (2014). "BitIodine: Extracting Intelligence from the Bitcoin Network". Financial Cryptography and Data Security. Lecture Notes in Computer Science. 8437: 457–468. doi:10.1007/978-3-662-45472-5_29. ISBN 978-3-662-45471-8.
  7. ^ Yakowicz, Will (2018-01-09). "Startups Helping the FBI Catch Bitcoin Criminals". Inc.com. Retrieved 2019-05-29.
  8. ^ "Bitcoin Suspect Could Shed Light on Russian Mueller Targets". Bloomberg.com. 4 September 2018.
  9. ^ Newman, Lily Hay. "How a Bitcoin Trail Led to a Massive Dark Web Child-Porn Site Takedown". Wired.
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