Following the rampant increase in Bitcoin prices, there has been a proliferation of cryptocurrencies, which have become a major way of doing business across national boundaries. This paper investigates the link between cryptocurrency markets and drug trafficking activities. More specifically, we explore the impact of the announcement of 24 major drug busts on the systematic risk and return of the world cryptocurrency market. We deploy an event study methodology to estimate the abnormal returns associated with drug trafficking activities in the cryptocurrency market. We find that the relationship between the two is quite strong in the case of some cryptocurrencies, albeit weaker in others. However, we show that drug bust news tends to create uncertainty, and accordingly impart risk into cryptocurrency markets. This study confirms the predictions of convenience theories of crime as to the relative attractiveness of cryptocurrencies to criminals, and the extent to which not only general, but also their own future interests, sacrificed readily on the altar of accessibility. We highlight how when social and regulatory foundations are weak, criminal behaviour may overwhelm virtual spaces, marginalizing more orthodox businesses, no matter how altruistic the intentions of their founders.
Cryptocurrencies have completely altered the digital transaction process all over the globe. Almost a decade after Satoshi Nakamoto generated the first Bitcoin block; many cryptocurrencies have been established. The Ransomware attack is a type of cybercrime and a class of malware that encrypts the files and prevents users from accessing their data or systems and demands payment for decrypting and retrieving access to their files. Ransomware data classification using present data mining and machine learning methods is difficult because predictions aren't always correct. We aim to build two models that effectively address these challenges and can diagnose and classify Ransomware attacks accurately, then compare the performance of the models. In this paper, we investigated the use of Rule-Based algorithms for mining Bitcoin Ransomware Data to classify Ransomware attacks in Bitcoin transactions. Employing Rule-Based techniques in detecting Bitcoin data is beneficial because the algorithms effectively classify non-linear datasets. The analysis was done on a Bitcoin dataset for 61,004 addresses selected from 29 Ransomware families and contained ten descriptive and decision attributes. Both Rule-Based algorithms were illustrated and compared on the dataset employing 10-fold cross-validation. Experimental results show that classification under partial decision tree (PART) algorithm performed better in different metrics than the Decision Table algorithm. It provides an accuracy of 96.01%, a recall of 96%, a precision of 95.9%, and an F-Measure of 95.6%. Experimental results propose that it is beneficial to further investigate the application of PART to predictive modelling tasks in Ransomware studies.
In this paper, we identify and review key challenges to bridge the knowledge-gap between SME's, companies, organisations, businesses, government institutions and the general public in adopting, promoting and utilising Blockchain technology. The challenges indicated are Cybersecurity and Data privacy in this instance. Additional challenges are set out supported by literature, in researching data security management systems and legal frameworks to ascertaining the types and varieties of valid encryption, data acquisition, policy and outcomes under ISO 27001 and the General Data Protection Regulations. Blockchain, a revolutionary method of storage and immutability, provides a robust storage strategy, and when coupled with a Smart Contract, gives users the ability to form partnerships, share information and consent via a legally-based system of carrying out business transactions in a secure digital domain. Globally, ethical and legal challenges significantly differ; consent and trust in the public and private sectors in deploying such defensive data management strategies, is directly related to the accountability and transparency systems in place to deliver certainty and justice. Therefore, investment and research in these areas is crucial to establishing a dialogue between nations to include health, finance and market strategies that should encompass all levels of society. A framework is proposed with elements to include Big Data, Machine Learning and Visualisation methods and techniques. Through the literature we identify a system necessary in carrying out experiments to detect, capture, process and store data. This includes isolating packet data to inform levels of Cybersecurity and privacy-related activities, and ensuring transparency demonstrated in a secure, smart and effective manner.
The purpose of this paper is to identify research that has been carried out about cryptocurrency regulation contributions and the current challenges that need to be addressed in future studies. The methodology used to conduct this research and report the findings was systematic mapping. We use this methodology to search, identify, and select all relevant primary studies on cryptocurrency regulation. The findings reveal that the key cryptocurrency regulation research topics are distributed governance, central bank digital currency, monetary policy, cryptocurrency adoption, security, regulation, cryptocurrency market, cybercrime economy and money laundering. The research proposals for cryptocurrency regulation comprise tools, protocols, methods, models, frameworks and, knowledge. The cryptocurrency regulatory challenges are cryptocurrency adoption, central bank digital currency regulation, accounting for cryptocurrencies and risk for cryptocurrencies. This systematic mapping provides an overview of the solutions proposed to regulate cryptocurrency as well as the current research challenges.
BACKGROUND: Cryptocurrency fraud has become a growing global concern, with various governments reporting an increase in the frequency of and losses from cryptocurrency scams. Despite increasing fraudulent activity involving cryptocurrencies, research on the potential of cryptocurrencies for fraud has not been examined in a systematic study. This review examines the current state of knowledge about what kinds of cryptocurrency fraud currently exist, or are expected to exist in the future, and provides comprehensive definitions of the frauds identified. METHODS: The study involved a scoping review of academic research and grey literature on cryptocurrency fraud and a 1.5-day expert consensus exercise. The review followed the PRISMA-ScR protocol, with eligibility criteria based on language, publication type, relevance to cryptocurrency fraud, and evidence provided. Researchers screened 391 academic records, 106 of which went on to the eligibility phase, and 63 of which were ultimately analysed. We screened 394 grey literature sources, 128 of which passed on to the eligibility phase, and 53 of which were included in our review. The expert consensus exercise was attended by high-profile participants from the private sector, government, and academia. It involved problem planning and analysis activities and discussion about the future of cryptocurrency crime. RESULTS: The academic literature identified 29 different types of cryptocurrency fraud; the grey literature discussed 32 types, 14 of which were not identified in the academic literature (i.e., 47 unique types in total). Ponzi schemes and (synonymous) high yield investment programmes were most discussed across all literature. Participants in the expert consensus exercise ranked pump-and-dump schemes and ransomware as the most profitable and feasible threats, though pump-and-dumps were, notably, perceived as the least harmful type of fraud. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this scoping review suggest cryptocurrency fraud research is rapidly developing in volume and breadth, though we remain at an early stage of thinking about future problems and scenarios involving cryptocurrencies. The findings of this work emphasise the need for better collaboration across sectors and consensus on definitions surrounding cryptocurrency fraud to address the problems identified.
Jan 1, 2022·Proceedings of the ... Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences/Proceedings of the Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences
Over 3,739 apps on average are published per day on the Google Play store [1]. A handful of the applications contain advertisement malware referred to as malvertising. As a result, Android advertisement malware has been a growing multi-billion-dollar problem. It constantly assaults many of the major advertising libraries such as the Google, Facebook, and Amazon. This paper presents an effective strategy for countering advertising malware using dynamic and static analysis techniques and the Soot compiler framework. Our research aims to detect malvertising click fraud in Android applications using the Soot compiler framework and blockchain technology. But the approach and the framework can be used to counter mobile malware families.
Digital assets are changing the way businesses think about equity, labor, business models, and business organization. Digital assets, like Bitcoin or Ethereum, provide incredible opportunities to further align shareholders with the objectives of the entity. Each time humanity advances its technology for ledgers, markets explode, and we witness immense wealth creation. Digital assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum are the next great step forward for ledger technology. While there are incredible opportunities to leverage this new technology, there are also incredible risks. There are many public examples of “hacks” of prominent blockchains like Ethereum and Solana. Blockchain technology has captured the imagination of the public. Blockchain, therefore, must develop a robust security system and intelligently distribute and limit liability for institutional and retail investors to reap the rewards of public attention. Part of the risk that comes from digital assets is its newness. Blockchains that run smart contracts have many incredible uses that could eliminate middlemen in many industries. But courts are yet to develop case law surrounding smart contracts. The way that smart contracts self-execute presents a new question which courts must address: how should a court allocate risk between two smart-contracting parties? No matter how the courts decide, the market needs an answer. This article attempts to explore some of the opportunities in digital assets and how these opportunities are fundamentally different from their traditional equivalents.
A smart Ponzi scheme (SPS) is a financial Ponzi scheme that is implemented and deployed in blockchain through smart contract technology. It is built on treachery and lies, by which, the organizers and speculators jointly deceive innocent investors by fostering a belief in obtaining the expected benefits. The occurrence of SPSs is originated from the vulnerability of the supervision mechanism on the blockchain. Although there are many excellent studies, these contributions overemphasized the methods themselves, did not describe the characteristics of the SPS well, and had certain limitations in practice. We made a thorough study on the characteristics of an SPS and brought out the vital features to identify an SPS for an investor. Based on the analysis of the contributions of predecessors, we propose an approach to test whether a contract is an SPS. This approach could deal with two situations, the contracts to be deployed and the long-run contracts respectively. Of the approach, the priori method can be exploited to distinguish whether the contract to be deployed is an SPS for the runner of a blockchain; the posterior method could protect an investor from being trapped in a fraud. At the same time, the posterior method can also be extended to monitor some contracts dynamically to alert users with the probability to be fallen into SPSs.
Know Your Customer (KYC) process plays a vital role for all banks in authenticating the identity of their customers. KYC verification is crucial to prevent banks from being used by illegal elements for money laundering activities such as drug trafficking, terrorism and other crimes. Manual KYC process in mainstream at present is less secure, time consuming and outdated. Since Blockchain offers features like decentralization, immutability and security, these limitations can be eliminated by using Blockchain based KYC verification. In this paper, we have proposed decentralized KYC verification process using Ethereum Blockchain platform. It would allow all the banks in the Blockchain network to verify and vote for legitimacy of the data provided by the customer. Depending on number of votes KYC status of customer gets stored on the Blockchain. Major enhancement in our proposed method is, banks can also vote for other banks if any bank is tampering with the KYC data and it will get removed from the network based on this voting. In this way, Blockchain can be used to improve the efficiency of KYC process with its distinctive features.
Cross-border financial transactions increasingly require robust, secure, and efficient mechanisms for customer identity verification. Regulatory compliance, particularly with Know Your Customer (KYC) standards, Anti-Money Laundering (AML) obligations, and counter-terrorist financing regulations, imposes significant operational and procedural burdens on financial institutions engaged in international finance. Traditional KYC processes rely heavily on manual verification, centralized databases, and fragmented identity documentation, often resulting in inefficiencies, duplications, and heightened exposure to fraud. In response, blockchain technology has emerged as a promising solution, offering decentralized, tamper-proof, and verifiable identity frameworks that can streamline KYC operations, reduce duplication, and enhance cross-border compliance. This paper proposes a conceptual blockchain-based framework for digital identity verification in cross-border financial contexts. The framework leverages distributed ledger technology to securely manage identity credentials, facilitate interoperability among financial institutions, and maintain compliance with international financial regulations. The study synthesizes prior research on blockchain applications in financial services, digital identity management, and KYC automation, highlighting challenges such as privacy, scalability, interoperability, and regulatory integration. By integrating blockchain with secure digital identity protocols, the proposed framework aims to enhance efficiency, trust, and compliance in international financial operations. The paper concludes with a discussion of implementation considerations, potential limitations, and future research directions to enable secure, scalable, and regulatory-compliant digital identity verification in cross-border financial ecosystems.