Using the features of cryptocurrency circulation in proving a person's involvement in drug trafficking

Introduction. Information and communication resources, together with the capabilities of the electronic payment sector, contribute to strengthening the potential of organized drug crime. The emerging negative trends in the field of drug trafficking, in which cryptocurrency is used, dictate the need to study taking into account the peculiarities of its circulation in proving cases of drug crimes. Literature review. Separate measures to counter drug trafficking committed using cryptocurrencies were proposed in the works of S.I. Zemtsova, O.A. Dvoryankina, E.N. Klochkova, E.L. Sidorenko. Taking into account the peculiarities of the circulation of cryptocurrencies in the process of proving a person's involvement in drug trafficking was not the subject of special research. Materials and methods. The statistical method, the study of documents (materials of criminal cases of drug trafficking), system-structural and formal-logical research methods were used. Results. In the process of proving criminal cases, it is necessary to take into account the vulnerabilities of the cryptocurrency settlement mechanism available at all stages of its deployment: downloading a crypto wallet to an electronic device, purchasing virtual coins and placing them in a wallet, as well as using a crypto wallet for direct settlement. Discussion and conclusions. As evidence of a person's involvement in the circulation of cryptocurrencies, there may be: data from the verification procedure completed by the user on Internet sites providing cryptocurrency exchange services; information from the archive of copies of all completed transactions found on the user's computer included in the Bitcoin system; the user's recorded knowledge of the unique key to the bitcoin wallet; the user has a mechanical device for using a "hardware" crypto wallet, carrying out the operation of exchanging cryptocurrency for fiat money.