How to Track Crypto Wallet Address

Learn if a cryptocurrency wallet can be tracked and how modern technology allows us to analyze blockchain transactions. We'll tell you how AML Crypto helps with investigations and protecting your assets.

Is it possible to track a crypto wallet: an expert's answer

Cryptocurrencies attract attention due to their anonymity and decentralization. But is it really that difficult to track transactions or identify the owner of a crypto wallet? Today, many users are interested in how to track a crypto wallet and how to do it safely and effectively. In this article, we will analyze in detail what a cryptocurrency wallet is, whether it can be tracked, and how our tools will help you solve this problem. You will learn how AML Crypto helps investigate criminal transactions and identify market participants.
It is important to note that a cryptocurrency wallet and a cryptocurrency address are different concepts that are often confused even by experienced users. A wallet is a software or device that allows you to manage your crypto assets, including sending and receiving funds. A cryptocurrency address, on the other hand, is a unique string of characters used to identify a recipient or sender on the blockchain. Simply put, a wallet can manage multiple addresses, and an address is used to conduct transactions. However, most users do not differentiate between these terms, using the word "crypto wallet" to refer to addresses. For the convenience of most readers, we will also use this term further in the article, although this is not entirely correct.

How does Bitcoin work and is it possible to track a wallet address?

Before discussing how to track a bitcoin address, it is important to understand how Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies work. Blockchain is a public, decentralized system where every transaction is recorded in an open ledger. Each wallet is assigned a unique address that is used to send and receive cryptocurrency.

Every transaction on the Bitcoin blockchain is transparent and viewable. This means that anyone can see how much money has been transferred from one address to another. However, despite the transparency of transactions, the wallets themselves (i.e. the address) remain anonymous unless deanonymized in one of several ways.

Are Bitcoin transactions tracked?

The answer is clear – yes, transactions in Bitcoin and most other cryptocurrencies can be tracked. The entire history of transfers is stored in the blockchain and is available for analysis. There are many tools that allow you to track crypto wallet address transfers from one address to another. Free tools, such as blockchain explorers, like Etherscan, or professional solutions from companies such as Chainalysis, CipherTrace, and AML Crypto, offer crypto wallet monitoring services to identify suspicious schemes and track funds.

Example of tracking blockchain transactions and Bitcoin crypto addresses in Bholder - a solution from AML Crypto

However, transaction tracking does not always lead to the exact identification of the wallet owner. Cryptocurrency wallets do not contain personal information, and in order to link an address to a specific person, additional data is needed - for example, information from exchanges or other services where the wallet was used for registration.

Is it possible to track the exact owner of a crypto wallet?

Although the transactions themselves can be tracked, it can be extremely difficult to determine the exact owner of a crypto wallet without additional data. Many users prefer to remain anonymous, using various methods to enhance their privacy: from creating multiple wallets to using mixers to obscure the traces of transfers.

However, if the owner of the wallet has ever used it on an exchange to buy or sell cryptocurrency, this data can be the key to identification. Exchanges are required to collect information about their customers as part of KYC (Know Your Customer) requirements and can provide this data upon request from law enforcement agencies.

There are also other ways, for example, users themselves can unintentionally reveal information about their wallet. For example, they can mention their cryptocurrency address on forums, social networks, or on various platforms where transactions or donations are made. OSINT and social engineering can also help to establish the owner of a crypto wallet, but these methods are not always legal.

Another professional way to analyze cryptocurrency transactions is ****address clustering, when several addresses are combined into one group based on common features and behavior. This method allows you to determine that several addresses may belong to one entity. This can be done using artificial intelligence technologies that analyze activity patterns and identify connections between addresses. Clustering helps to more accurately determine the owner, even if he uses several wallets for anonymity.

Is the crypto exchange tracked?

Cryptocurrency exchanges play a key role in how to track bitcoin wallet address and transactions, as they are required to comply with KYC and AML requirements, which includes collecting data on users and wallets. Many exchanges publicly mark their addresses on blockchain explorers such as Etherscan, making it easy to track wallet address transactions associated with their wallets. This data helps track financial flows and exchange interactions with external wallets.

An example of displaying the ownership of a crypto address by a specific exchange on the Etherscan blockchain explorer

In addition, exchanges are actively monitored through public blockchain explorers that display all information about transactions going through the network. Test purchases, in which researchers make test transactions on an exchange, help establish links between exchange wallets and specific transactions.

An effective method is also address clustering, which allows you to combine several crypto wallets belonging to one exchange into groups. Analysis of such clusters and behavior patterns helps determine which addresses belong to the exchange, even if they are not marked in the blockchain, and track their activity.

Expert opinion: How accurately can you identify the owner of a crypto wallet?

According to AML Crypto experts, the accuracy of calculating the owner of a crypto wallet depends on many factors. First of all, an important role is played by how often the wallet interacted with centralized services, such as exchanges or payment gateways. The more transaction data is available, the easier it is to link them to real people.

Modern blockchain analysis tools allow not only to track crypto wallet transactions, but also to build complex connections between different addresses. However, even despite the high accuracy of these tools, it is often impossible to unambiguously link an address to a person without additional data from centralized sources. But it is possible to establish deanonymization points for a crypto address — that is, to give instructions on how to track bitcoin address owners.

How to track AML Crypto transactions?

If you need to conduct an investigation related to cryptocurrency transactions, AML Crypto offers its services in tracking and analyzing blockchain transactions. Our team of experts uses our own advanced technologies to identify suspicious activities and assist law enforcement agencies and individuals.

We provide a full range of services, from transaction analysis to identification of participants in cryptocurrency schemes. For assistance, contact us on Telegram or write to [email protected]. We guarantee confidentiality and efficiency in solving your problems.

Example of an investigation summary from AML Crypto with an analysis of blockchain transactions to identify the attacker

References

1
AML Crypto reports on blockchain analytics and investigations of incidents involving cryptocurrencies.
2
Guidance on virtual assets and virtual asset service providers (VASPs) from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)
3
The European Union Markets in Cryptoassets Regulation (MiCA)
4
Guidance on cryptocurrency transactions from the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN)
5
Sanctions Compliance Guidance for the Virtual Currency Industry from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)
6
Chainalysis reports on cryptocurrencies and blockchain analytics
Check blockchain address using Btrace
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