Hidden Crypto Markets explores the shadowy world where cryptocurrency fuels illicit activities, venturing into unregulated exchanges and dark web marketplaces. It highlights how the initial promise of decentralization and anonymity in digital currency inadvertently created opportunities for financial crime, examining how billions in crypto vanish and resurface in illegal operations. For example, transaction obfuscation methods and privacy coins are detailed, revealing how criminals attempt to mask the origins of their funds. This book uniquely dissects the structure of illicit crypto markets, detailing methods like mixers, tumblers, and chain hopping used to obscure funds. It presents real-world case studies and employs blockchain analytics to trace the flow of funds, offering a fact-based analysis of how these markets operate beyond traditional financial regulations.

The narrative progresses from the history of cryptocurrency and the rise of crypto crime to the investigative techniques used by law enforcement and the ongoing debates surrounding cryptocurrency regulation. Ultimately, Hidden Crypto Markets investigates efforts to combat crypto crime, analyzing the effectiveness of current regulations and proposing improvements. It emphasizes the need for technological solutions, regulatory oversight, and international cooperation to tackle the challenges posed by unregulated exchanges and illicit crypto markets. By using government reports, academic research, and expert interviews, the book connects criminology, cybersecurity, and international finance to provide a holistic understanding of this complex issue.