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Anonymity;‎ A Prominent Factor in Cryptocurrencies for Terrorist Financing

Articles in Press

Document Type : Article

Authors

1 P.h.D in Public International Law, Faculty of Law and Political Sciences, University of Tehran, ‎Tehran, Iran‎

2 Professor, Faculty of Law and Political Sciences, University of Tehran, Iran‎

Abstract

Cryptocurrencies or encrypted assets have been introduced as the latest example of a digital display of value that can perform the functions of money as a means of payment. These types of assets, which are protected by cryptography, operate based on the agreement between the user community and in a decentralized manner. Cryptocurrencies, provided a suitable platform for committing financial crimes. Among the international financial crimes related to cryptocurrencies is the financing of terrorism, which has increased its scope in the last decade with the use of cryptocurrencies. One of the prominent features of cryptocurrencies that makes them attractive for terrorist financing is the anonymity of their transactions. In this article, we are trying to answer this question by using descriptive and analytical method, how anonymity as a feature of cryptocurrency can be effective in the use of this model of assets by terrorists. According to the studies done, considering that concealing the identity and preventing the blocking of financial resources is one of the most important concerns of terrorist groups and their sponsors, it can be acknowledged that anonymity is an important and key factor for terrorists to turn to the market of new assets, including cryptocurrencies.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Public Law Studies Quarterly

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 23 August 2026
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History
  • Receive Date: 28 September 2023
  • Revise Date: 27 May 2024
  • Accept Date: 15 September 2024
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