Cryptocurrency Transaction Tracing
Follow the money: track Bitcoin and crypto transactions for investigations.
Cryptocurrency tracking is an essential modern OSINT skill for financial investigations. While crypto offers pseudonymity, blockchain's transparency allows skilled investigators to trace transactions and identify patterns.
This tutorial teaches you how to track Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency transactions, identify wallet clusters, analyze transaction patterns, and potentially link crypto addresses to real-world identities.
These techniques are used by law enforcement, compliance teams, and security researchers to combat cybercrime, money laundering, and ransomware operations.
Blockchain.com Explorer
View Bitcoin transactions and wallet histories
Find in directory →Etherscan
Ethereum blockchain explorer with transaction tracking
Find in directory →BitcoinWhosWho
Database of known scam addresses and wallet owners
Find in directory →- 1
Obtain the cryptocurrency address(es) from your investigation
- 2
Use a blockchain explorer to view transaction history and balance
- 3
Identify incoming and outgoing transactions and their timestamps
- 4
Map transaction flows to identify clusters of related addresses
- 5
Check if addresses are associated with known exchanges or services
- 6
Look for patterns like regular amounts, timing, or mixing services
- 7
Cross-reference addresses with scam databases and reporting sites
- 8
Document the transaction trail with screenshots and transaction IDs
- 9
Look for links to real-world identities through exchange disclosures or public posts
Different cryptocurrencies require different explorers (Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.)
Wallet clustering can reveal addresses controlled by the same entity
Large exchanges are often identifiable by their transaction patterns
Mixing services (tumblers) attempt to obscure transaction trails
Many criminals eventually cash out to exchanges requiring KYC verification
Privacy coins (Monero, Zcash) are much harder to trace
Look for 'change addresses' that return funds after transactions
Transaction timing and amounts can reveal behavioral patterns
Always work with transaction IDs, not just addresses
Share your own tips or learn from the community's experience
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I've found that combining multiple reverse image search engines in parallel significantly improves results. Don't rely on just one!
Always document your methodology step-by-step. This helps with reproducibility and explaining your findings to others.