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Bitcoin's decentralized nature enables reasonably anonymous exchange of money outside of the authorities' control. This has led to Bitcoin being popular for various illegal activities, including scams, ransomware attacks, money laundering, black markets, etc.  In this thesis, we characterize this landscape, providing insights into similarities and differences in the use of Bitcoin for such activities.  Our analysis and the derived insights contributes to the understanding of Bitcoin transactions associated with illegal activities through three main aspects. First, it offers a comprehensive characterization of money flows to and from Bitcoin addresses linked to different abuse categories, revealing variations in flow patterns and success rates. Second, a temporal analysis captures long-term trends and weekly patterns across categories. Finally, an analysis of outflow from reported addresses uncovers differences in graph properties and flow patterns among illicit addresses and between abuse categories. These findings provide valuable insights into the distribution, temporal dynamics, and interconnections within various categories of Bitcoin transactions related to illicit activities.

Bakgrund: Genom den kraftiga ökningen i användandet av tekniska och digitala betalmedel fanns ett behov av att se över de existerande regelverken. Den markanta största avsaknaden är regleringar kring egenupparbetade immateriella tillgångar och kryptovalutor vilket utgjorde grunden för denna studien.   Syfte: Syftet med studien är att beskriva och analysera hur människor som arbetar med redovisning tar beslut kring redovisning av kryptovalutor utifrån existerande regelverk och praxis, för att vidare undersöka vilket behov det finns av utökade och mer detaljerade regleringar. Metod: Studien har en induktiv ansats och en kvalitativ forskningsstrategi med en experimentell forskningsdesign. Den empiriska datan har samlats in via semistrukturerade intervjuer med fokus på fyra caseuppgifter.     Slutsats: Studien påvisar en bristande kunskap i hur existerande regelverk ska appliceras på nya redovisningsproblem. Det konstateras att nuvarande regleringar och hjälpmedel inte är tillräckliga i sin utformning för att stötta deras användare. / Background: Due to the heavy increase in the use of technical and digital means of payment, there was a need to review the existing regulations. The significant biggest shortcoming is regulations regarding self-developed intangible assets and cryptocurrencies, which formed the basis for this study. Purpose: The purpose of the study is to describe and analyze how people who work with accounting make decisions about accounting for cryptocurrencies based on existing regulations and customs, to further investigate the need for extended and more detailed regulations. Method: The study has an inductive approach and a qualitative research strategy with an experimental research design. The empirical data has been collected via semi-structured interviews with a focus on four case data. Conclusion: The study demonstrates a lack of knowledge in how existing regulations should be applied to new accounting problems. It is noted that current regulations and aids are not sufficient in their design to support their users.

The goal of this study is to identify the current application areas and some possible application areas for blockchain; blockchain is a distributed database that is currently most known for being the technology used for storing transaction information of digital currencies such as the Bitcoin. Through a literature review and interviews with domain experts, we identified some current application areas for blockchain, that is, money transactions, decentralized data and privacy protection, and decentralized autonomous organizations (DAO). Within the area of decentralized data and privacy protection, we further identified the two sub-areas of smart contracts and secure identities. In addition, we identified some possible application areas by conducting a second literature review. Some of these application areas are: storing mind files and human intelligence, on-line voting, supply chain management, stock trading, Internet of Things (IoT), and banking. The contribution of this study can be used for further studies through each of the above application areas in order to identify possible advantages and disadvantages.

L’essor fulgurant des cryptomonnaies au cours des dernières années a propulsé à l’avant-plan la chaîne de blocs auprès du public. Exploitant l’anonymat et la décentralisation du système, les acteurs dans le monde criminel ont profité de la commodité de ces devises pour faciliter leurs activités. Compte tenu de leur popularité récente, les principes en droit criminel demeurent embryonnaires et la littérature peu développée à ce sujet. Ce mémoire vise à déterminer s’il existe une attente raisonnable de vie privée à l’égard de la chaîne de blocs et des cryptomonnaies. À travers une analyse prospective des fondements de l’article 8 de la Charte canadienne entourant les fouilles et les perquisitions, nous exposerons le cadre juridique applicable à l’égard de ces technologies. En raison de ses caractéristiques intrinsèques, la garantie juridique ne s’applique pas aux données répertoriées sur la chaîne de blocs. Cependant, la protection s’étend aux portefeuilles de cryptomonnaie étant donné la nature sensible de leur contenu. Nous examinerons finalement les différents mandats applicables lors d’une saisie de ces actifs. / Over the last few years, the rapid growth of cryptocurrencies has brought blockchain to the forefront of the public. Harnessing the network’s anonymous and decentralized power, criminals have been using cryptocurrencies to facilitate their activities. However, owing to its recent surge in popularity, principles within criminal law are still undergoing development and the existing literature on the subject remains thin. This thesis aims to determine whether there is a reasonable expectation of privacy in blockchain and cryptocurrencies. Through a prospective analysis of the general principles on search and seizure, we will outline the analytical framework applicable to these technologies. Due to its intrinsic characteristics, the Canadian Charter does not confer protection to data stored on blockchain. However, the scope extends to cryptocurrency wallets due to its sensitive nature. We will also discuss the general and specific warrants used during a seizure of these assets.

El presente trabajo de investigación tiene como principal objetivo el analizar el uso del Bitcoin como medio de pago en el Perú. El bitcoin es un moneda digital o criptomoneda esta es intangible y virtual que sirve como medio de intercambio de bienes y servicios como cualquier otra cualquier moneda del mundo donde esta sea aceptada, esta como tal no cuenta con un número de serie u otro mecanismo que permita rastrear a los vendedores y compradores que emplean esta divisa electrónica . Con respecto a la metodología empleada, se escogió un enfoque cualitativo, de tipo aplicada, de diseño no experimental y de nivel exploratorio; limitando a analizar la opinión de seis docentes especialistas en las materias de economías, finanzas y de derecho, de cinco usuarios y cinco no usuarios de Bitcoin con el propósito de obtener respuesta al fenómeno de estudio. La técnica empleada es la entrevista y como instrumento la guía de entrevista de adaptación propia validada por expertos, posteriormente la información obtenida fue revisada e interpretada, donde se llegó a la conclusión que el uso del Bitcoin como medio de pago en el Perú es nulo y no viable de momento debido a una gran serie de factores como la falta de regulaciones monetarias y legales, de igual modo la no necesidad por parte de los peruanos de colocar en circulación un nuevo medio de pago como lo es el Bitcoin. / The main objective of this research work is to analyze the use of Bitcoin as a payment method in the Perú. Bitcoin is a digital currency or cryptocurrency this is intangible and virtual that serves as a means of exchanging goods and services like any other any currency in the world where it is accepted, it as such does not have a serial number or other mechanism that allows track sellers and buyers using this electronic currency. Regarding the methodology used, a qualitative approach was chosen, of an applied type, with a non-experimental design and an exploratory level; limiting to analyze the opinion of six professors specialized in the subjects of economics, finance and law, of five users and five non-users of Bitcoin with the purpose of obtaining a response to the study phenomenon. The technique used is the interview and as an instrument the self-adapted interview guide validated by experts, subsequently the information obtained was then reviewed and interpreted, where it was concluded that the use of Bitcoin as a means of payment in Peru is null and void and not viable at the moment due to a number of factors such as the lack of monetary and legal regulations, as well as the lack of need for Peruvians to put into circulation a new means of payment such as Bitcoin.

As the cryptocurrency markets continuously grow, so does the need for reliable analytical tools for price prediction. This study conducted a comparative analysis of machine learning (ML) algorithms for cryptocurrency price prediction. Through a literature review, three common and reliable ML algorithms for cryptocurrency price prediction were identified: Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), Random Forest (RF), and eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost). Utilizing the Bitcoin All Time History dataset from TradingView, the study assessed both the individual performance of each algorithm and the potential of ensemble methods to enhance predictive accuracy. The results reveal that the LSTM algorithm outperformed RF and XGBoost in terms of predictive accuracy according to the metrics Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Mean Squared Error (MSE), and Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE). Additionally, two ensemble approaches were tested: Ensemble 1, which enhanced the LSTM model with the combined predictions from RF and XGBoost, and Ensemble 2, which integrated predictions from all three models. Ensemble 2 demonstrated the highest predictive performance among all models, highlighting the advantages of using ensemble approaches for more robust predictions.

The purpose of the work is to design and develop a client-server web application that allows trading on the Binance exchange. The object of the final qualifying work is a set of trading actions of a trader and his interaction with the cryptocurrency exchange in the process of trading. The subject of the final qualifying work is the process of developing the client-server part of a web application for trading on the Binance exchange. The work considers intraday trading as a separate branch of trading on the exchange, a comparison is made with the "Trader's Personal Account" - a product from the Vataga LLC team. Approaches to building the architecture of client-server applications, a current technological stack for developing web applications are analyzed. The design and development process, as well as refactoring and testing of the application, are described. Approaches to ensuring security and development prospects of the web application for trading on the Binance exchange are described separately. / Объектом выпускной квалификационной работы является набор торговых действий трейдера и его взаимодействие с криптовалютной биржей в процессе торговли. Предметом выпускной квалификационной работы является процесс разработки клиент-серверной части web-приложения для торговли на бирже Binance. В работе рассматривается внутридневной трейдинг, как отдельное ответвление торговли на бирже, проводится сравнение с «Личным кабинетом трейдера» – продуктом от команды ООО «Ватага». Анализируются подходы к построению архитектуры клиент-серверных приложений, актуальный на сегодняшний день технологический стек для разработки web-приложений. Описывается процесс проектирования и разработки, а также рефакторинга и тестирования приложения. Отдельно описываются подходы к обеспечению безопасности и перспективы развития web-приложения для торговли на бирже Binance.

Diese Dissertation hat zum Ziel, digitale Vermögenswerte statistisch zu durchleuchten und damit einen Beitrag zur Integration digitaler Vermögenswerte in die digitale Gesellschaft zu leisten. Die Kapitel dieser Arbeit lassen sich unter den Schlagworten Abbildung und Analyse der Marktdynamiken von digitalen Vermögenswerten, sowie Investitionen in digitale Vermögenswerte zusammenfassen. Das erste Kapitel, Abbildung der Marktdynamiken digitaler Vermögenswerte, evaluiert die derzeit existierenden Indizes für Kryptowährungen (KWen) sowohl qualitativ als auch quantitativ. Als Grundlage für die Analyse des KW-Sektors ist zunächst eine geeignete Abbildung von dessen Marktdynamiken nötig. Die schnelle Entwicklung des KW-Sektors, seine hohe Volatilität und das häufige Aufkommen und Verschwinden von KWen stellen die Emittenten von KW-Indizes vor Herausforderungen. Jeder Index geht mit diesen Herausforderungen anders um und so unterscheiden sich die methodischen Ansätze der Indizes ebenso wie ihre statistischen Eigenschaften. Das zweite Kapitel, Analyse der Marktdynamiken von digitalen Vermögenswerten, untersucht die Dynamiken des KW-Sektors. Damit sich der KW-Sektor etablieren und in die Finanzwelt integriert werden kann, müssen zunächst die zugrunde liegenden Dynamiken verstanden werden. Wir modellieren die nicht-stationären Renditen und deren Volatilität durch zwei stochastische Differentialgleichungen und schätzen deren Parameter auf Bayes’sche Weise. Dabei identifizieren wir verschiedene Muster des KW-Sektors in Bezug auf Renditen, Volatilität und Sprünge. Im dritten Kapitel, Investitionen in digitale Vermögenswerte, konstruieren wir einen ETF auf den CRIX (vgl. Trimborn and Härdle, 2018), einen Index für den KW-Sektor. Dabei beleuchten wir die zugrundeliegenden Mechanismen, identifizieren potentielle Risiken und schätzen die Kostenstruktur eines solchen KW-ETFs ab. Damit ebnen wir den Weg für die Implementierung dieses neuartigen Finanzprodukts. / This dissertation aims to shed light on the new asset class „digital assets“ from a statistical perspective and thus contributes to the integration of digital assets into the digital society. The chapters of this thesis can be summarized by the keywords tracking, understanding, and investing in digital assets. The first chapter, tracking digital assets, evaluates the currently existing cryptocurrency (CC) indices both qualitatively and quantitatively. As a basis for the analysis of the CC sector, it is first necessary to find an appropriate mapping of the market dynamics. The rapid development of the CC sector, its high volatility and the frequent emergence and disappearance of CCs pose challenges for the issuers of CC indices. Each index deals with these challenges differently, and so the methodological approaches of the indices differ, as do their statistical properties. The second chapter, understanding digital assets, examines the dynamics of the CC sector. For the CC sector to become established and integrated, the underlying dynamics must first be understood. Therefore, we model the non-stationary returns and volatility by two stochastic differential equations and estimate their parameters in a Bayesian manner. Thereby, we identify several patterns on the dynamics of the CC sector with respect to returns, volatility and jumps. The third chapter, investing in digital assets, aims to pave the way for the integration of digital assets into the financial sector. As investments in digital assets remain risky due to high volatility and frequent disappearance of CCs, ETFs are a suitable tool to invest in this sector. We construct an ETF on the CRIX (cf. Trimborn and Härdle, 2018), an index for the CC sector. In doing so, we reveal the underlying mechanisms, risks and costs of such a new financial product and pave the way for its implementation.

Seit Satoshi Nakamoto Bitcoin (BTC) erschaffen hat, ist der Kryptowährungsmarkt oft im Zentrum von Diskussionen über den Wert von Kryptos. Trotz dieser Debatten bleibt der Markt lebendig, mit aktiven Investoren, die im Handel, der Absicherung, Spekulation, Investition, Verleihen, Ausleihen und der Innovation neuer Mechanismen engagiert sind. Im ersten Kapitel untersuchen wir die Absicherungseffektivität von Bitcoin-Futures gegenüber BTC und anderen Krypto-Expositionen. Angesichts der Volatilität der Kryptopreise könnte die Zuverlässigkeit von Futures zur Absicherung fraglich sein. Wir demonstrieren, dass mit einem auf Kopulae basierenden Hedging-Verhältnis BTCF effektiv gegen BTC für verschiedene Risikopräferenzen, modelliert durch Risikomaße, absichern kann. Im zweiten Kapitel extrahieren wir die im BTC-Markt eingebetteten Jump-Prämien. Die Studie wird durch häufige Preissprünge motiviert. Unsere Analyse zeigt, dass die risikoprämienspezifischen Einblicke in positive und negative Jumps Aufschluss darüber geben, wie der BTC-Optionsmarkt auf größere Ereignisse reagiert; die Prämien besitzen prädiktive Kraft für Renditen von delta-gehedgten Optionen, was mögliche Gewinne aus dem Handel mit Krypto-Optionen erklärt. Die Sprungrisikoprämien sind gute Indikatoren, um die von BTCF implizierten volatilen Carry-Kosten zu erklären. Im dritten Kapitel erforschen wir den Krypto-Kreditmarkt. Dieser teilt Schlüsselmerkmale mit anderen Non-Recourse-Darlehen, z.B. Sicherheitsanforderungen und Verfahren für Margin Calls. Der Markt operiert ohne eine konventionelle Zinsstruktur. Um dies zu ergänzen, schlagen wir eine faire Zinsstruktur vor, indem wir die Krypto-Kreditausleihposition als amerikanische Barrier-Option modellieren. / Since Satoshi Nakamoto created Bitcoin (BTC), the cryptocurrency market has often been at the center of discussions about the value of cryptocurrencies. Despite these debates, the market remains vibrant, with active investors engaged in trading, hedging, speculation, investment, lending, borrowing, and the innovation of new mechanisms. In the first chapter, we examine the hedging effectiveness of Bitcoin futures against BTC and other crypto exposures. Given the volatility of crypto prices, the reliability of futures for hedging might be questionable. We demonstrate that a Copula-based hedging ratio can effectively hedge BTCF against BTC for various risk preferences modeled by risk measures. In the second chapter, we extract the jump premiums embedded in the BTC market. The study is motivated by frequent price jumps. Our analysis shows that risk premium-specific insights into positive and negative jumps provide understanding of how the BTC options market responds to major events; the premiums have predictive power for the returns of delta-hedged options, which explains potential gains from trading crypto options. Jump risk premiums are good indicators for explaining the volatile carry costs implied by BTCF. In the third chapter, we explore the crypto lending market. This market shares key characteristics with other non-recourse loans, such as security requirements and procedures for margin calls. However, the market operates without a conventional interest rate structure. To address this, we propose a fair interest rate structure by modeling the crypto lending position as an American barrier option.