Systematic modelling of anonymity with application to cryptocurrencies

Abstract

This thesis presents a generalised comprehensive framework for evaluating anonymity of cryptocurrency schemes. The framework was developed using security modelling with emphasis on a wide range of factors affecting anonymity, irrespective of the underlying implementation. The case studies presented in the thesis demonstrate how this framework facilitates the evaluation of anonymity of different cryptocurrencies in a standardised manner and the analysis of these findings reveals the complexity of the notion of anonymity.