Illegal circulation of digital currencies: features of criminal investigation

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to analyze the international and national legal regulation of the digital currencies circulation at the present stage, to assess the state of crime with the illegal use of these assets, to identify the features of the investigating such crimes and to substantiate proposals aimed at improving legislation and law enforcement practice. The following methods were used in the research: normative and comparative legal – in the analysis of legislation and practice of seizure and confiscation of digital currencies in different states, to identify the strengths and weaknesses of national approaches, to assess the possibility of their unification and harmonization; phenomenological – in considering the criminal trafficking in digital currency as a phenomenon that requires special methods of detection and investigation; general logical methods of analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, methods of empirical research and analysis. It was shown that with the rapid growth of crime involving cryptocurrencies, the legislation of various states is at the stage of formation of legal regulation of the fight against its illicit trafficking: only some countries have established the status of digital currency as property, provided for the specifics of seizure, storage and sale of digital currency in criminal cases. The need to recognize digital currencies as property has been substantiated. It is shown that the seizure and confiscation of cryptocurrencies should be carried out only by court decision. The lack of special knowledge in the field of digital technology among the investigator, prosecutor and the court requires the mandatory involvement of a specialist in the proceedings on cases of crimes committed with the use of digital currency.