Investigating cryptocurrency financing crimes terrorism and armed aggression

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the problems of investigating crimes of financing terrorism and armed aggression with cryptocurrency, which is relevant considering the attack on Ukraine by the Russian Federation, as well as in connection with the significant spread and use of cryptocurrency for financing both terrorism and armed aggression. The purpose of the article is to study the problems of investigating crimes of cryptocurrency financing of terrorism and armed aggression and finding ways and means of solving problematic issues, because cryptocurrency financing of terrorism and armed aggression is an encroachment on national security. The methods of system analysis and technical-legal analysis, as well as the formal-logical method, were used in the research process. Thanks to this, approaches to understanding the way of committing crimes of the researched category have been determined. The shortcomings in the legal regulation of the circulation and use of cryptocurrency in Ukraine, as well as in the legal regulation of the investigation of crimes related to the illegal acquisition and use of cryptocurrency for criminal purposes, including for the financing of terrorism and armed aggression, are highlighted. Jurisdictional problems of criminal prosecution of persons who committed crimes of this category, their high latency due to the lack of proper legal procedures and methods of investigation, have been determined. The need to create specialized units in law enforcement agencies, whose competence will include the detection and investigation of the specified crimes, their active interaction with the Cyber Police, is substantiated. The attention and necessity of introducing a system of constant monitoring of social networks, the Internet, and media and conducting OSINT-intelligence from open sources with the aim of detecting and stopping such criminal activities, tracking and arresting and eventually seizing cryptocurrency, if such an opportunity is available, was emphasized. Practical recommendations for the investigation of crimes of cryptocurrency financing of terrorism and armed aggression have been formulated. The need for international legal cooperation in this area was emphasized; the need to involve specialists in the field of information technologies, programming, and blockchain engineering in the investigation process in general and in specific investigative actions. The requirements for the recording of evidence in the protocols of investigative (search) actions during the investigation of crimes of this category are formulated, in particular, the need for hashing of files is specified. The practical significance of the study is that the obtained results can be used during the investigation of crimes of the studied category.