Abstract
DarkNet markets (DNMs) are flourishing, exploiting cryptocurrencies' pseudo-anonymity feature. To fight the illegal drug trade, it is necessary to understand the factors influencing choices made by DNM consumers. ClearNet forums facilitate interactions among new and experienced DarkNet users, thus serving as an ideal source for investigation and research. The methodology of temporal topic models and sentiment analysis were applied to the ClearNet forum data to explore DNM new drug users’ behavior over time. We inspected the development of major topics from the forum over eight years (2012–19) period to study the evolution in motivations and challenges faced by DNM users. The extracted temporal topic models successfully captured the apparent dynamics of critical events in the crypto world, showing the shift from Bitcoin to Monero. Our analysis demonstrates that the Bitcoin traceability announcement (made public in 2015) did not have a deterrent effect on the usage of Bitcoin, and this declaration instead acted as an advertisem*nt for DNMs. Drug buyers used Bitcoin despite its traceability until Monero became untraceable in 2017 due to its privacy update.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Article number | 301377 |
Pages (from-to) | 1-9 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Forensic Science International: Digital Investigation |
Volume | 40 |
Early online date | Mar 2022 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Mar 2022 |
Keywords
- DarkNet markets
- Temporal topic modeling
- Sentiment analysis
- Natural language processing
- Drugs
- Bitcoin
- Monero
- DNM
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Bahamazava, K. (2022). The shift of DarkNet illegal drug trade preferences in cryptocurrency: The question of traceability and deterrence. Forensic Science International: Digital Investigation, 40, 1-9. Article 301377. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsidi.2022.301377
Bahamazava, Katsiaryna ; Nanda, Rohan. / The shift of DarkNet illegal drug trade preferences in cryptocurrency: The question of traceability and deterrence. In: Forensic Science International: Digital Investigation. 2022 ; Vol. 40. pp. 1-9.
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title = "The shift of DarkNet illegal drug trade preferences in cryptocurrency: The question of traceability and deterrence",
abstract = "DarkNet markets (DNMs) are flourishing, exploiting cryptocurrencies' pseudo-anonymity feature. To fight the illegal drug trade, it is necessary to understand the factors influencing choices made by DNM consumers. ClearNet forums facilitate interactions among new and experienced DarkNet users, thus serving as an ideal source for investigation and research. The methodology of temporal topic models and sentiment analysis were applied to the ClearNet forum data to explore DNM new drug users{\textquoteright} behavior over time. We inspected the development of major topics from the forum over eight years (2012–19) period to study the evolution in motivations and challenges faced by DNM users. The extracted temporal topic models successfully captured the apparent dynamics of critical events in the crypto world, showing the shift from Bitcoin to Monero. Our analysis demonstrates that the Bitcoin traceability announcement (made public in 2015) did not have a deterrent effect on the usage of Bitcoin, and this declaration instead acted as an advertisem*nt for DNMs. Drug buyers used Bitcoin despite its traceability until Monero became untraceable in 2017 due to its privacy update.",
keywords = "DarkNet markets, Temporal topic modeling, Sentiment analysis, Natural language processing, Drugs, Bitcoin, Monero, DNM",
author = "Katsiaryna Bahamazava and Rohan Nanda",
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Bahamazava, K 2022, 'The shift of DarkNet illegal drug trade preferences in cryptocurrency: The question of traceability and deterrence', Forensic Science International: Digital Investigation, vol. 40, 301377, pp. 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsidi.2022.301377
The shift of DarkNet illegal drug trade preferences in cryptocurrency: The question of traceability and deterrence. / Bahamazava, Katsiaryna; Nanda, Rohan.
In: Forensic Science International: Digital Investigation, Vol. 40, 301377, 03.2022, p. 1-9.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - The shift of DarkNet illegal drug trade preferences in cryptocurrency: The question of traceability and deterrence
AU - Bahamazava, Katsiaryna
AU - Nanda, Rohan
PY - 2022/3
Y1 - 2022/3
N2 - DarkNet markets (DNMs) are flourishing, exploiting cryptocurrencies' pseudo-anonymity feature. To fight the illegal drug trade, it is necessary to understand the factors influencing choices made by DNM consumers. ClearNet forums facilitate interactions among new and experienced DarkNet users, thus serving as an ideal source for investigation and research. The methodology of temporal topic models and sentiment analysis were applied to the ClearNet forum data to explore DNM new drug users’ behavior over time. We inspected the development of major topics from the forum over eight years (2012–19) period to study the evolution in motivations and challenges faced by DNM users. The extracted temporal topic models successfully captured the apparent dynamics of critical events in the crypto world, showing the shift from Bitcoin to Monero. Our analysis demonstrates that the Bitcoin traceability announcement (made public in 2015) did not have a deterrent effect on the usage of Bitcoin, and this declaration instead acted as an advertisem*nt for DNMs. Drug buyers used Bitcoin despite its traceability until Monero became untraceable in 2017 due to its privacy update.
AB - DarkNet markets (DNMs) are flourishing, exploiting cryptocurrencies' pseudo-anonymity feature. To fight the illegal drug trade, it is necessary to understand the factors influencing choices made by DNM consumers. ClearNet forums facilitate interactions among new and experienced DarkNet users, thus serving as an ideal source for investigation and research. The methodology of temporal topic models and sentiment analysis were applied to the ClearNet forum data to explore DNM new drug users’ behavior over time. We inspected the development of major topics from the forum over eight years (2012–19) period to study the evolution in motivations and challenges faced by DNM users. The extracted temporal topic models successfully captured the apparent dynamics of critical events in the crypto world, showing the shift from Bitcoin to Monero. Our analysis demonstrates that the Bitcoin traceability announcement (made public in 2015) did not have a deterrent effect on the usage of Bitcoin, and this declaration instead acted as an advertisem*nt for DNMs. Drug buyers used Bitcoin despite its traceability until Monero became untraceable in 2017 due to its privacy update.
KW - DarkNet markets
KW - Temporal topic modeling
KW - Sentiment analysis
KW - Natural language processing
KW - Drugs
KW - Bitcoin
KW - Monero
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DO - 10.1016/j.fsidi.2022.301377
M3 - Article
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Bahamazava K, Nanda R. The shift of DarkNet illegal drug trade preferences in cryptocurrency: The question of traceability and deterrence. Forensic Science International: Digital Investigation. 2022 Mar;40:1-9. 301377. Epub 2022 Mar. doi: 10.1016/j.fsidi.2022.301377