SoK: Assumptions Underlying Cryptocurrency Deanonymizations

In recent years, cryptocurrencies have increasingly been used in cybercrime and become the key means of payment darknet marketplaces, partly due to their alleged anonymity. Furthermore, research attacking anonymity even those that claim offer by design is growing being applied law enforcement agencies fight against cybercrime. Their investigative measures require a certain degree suspicion it unclear whether findings resulting from attacks on cryptocurrencies’ can indeed establish required suspicion. The reason for this these are based upon uncertain assumptions which often not properly addressed corresponding papers. To close gap, we extract papers Bitcoin, Monero Zcash, major markets also received most attention researchers. We develop taxonomy capture different nature order help investigators better assess specific could be established. found user behaviour general unreliable thus any them might allow intense such as pre-trial detention. hope raise awareness problem so future there will fewer unlawful investigations human rights violations.