Sex, Drugs, and Bitcoin: How Much Illegal Activity Is Financed through Cryptocurrencies?

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ID: 305180
2019
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Abstract
Cryptocurrencies are among the largest unregulated markets in the world. We find that approximately one-quarter of bitcoin users are involved in illegal activity. We estimate that around $76 billion of illegal activity per year involve bitcoin (46% of bitcoin transactions), which is close to the scale of the U.S. and European markets for illegal drugs. The illegal share of bitcoin activity declines with mainstream interest in bitcoin and with the emergence of more opaque cryptocurrencies. The techniques developed in this paper have applications in cryptocurrency surveillance. Our findings suggest that cryptocurrencies are transforming the black markets by enabling "black e-commerce." Received June 1, 2017; editorial decision December 8, 2018 by Editor Andrew Karolyi. Authors have furnished an Internet Appendix, which is available on the Oxford University Press Web site next to the link to the final published paper online.
Reference Key
openalex_W3123868249 Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
Authors Sean Foley, Jonathan R. Karlsen, Tālis J. Putniņš
Journal review of financial studies
Year 2019
DOI
10.1093/rfs/hhz015
URL
https://doi.org/10.1093/rfs/hhz015
Keywords Keywords not found

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