After years of believing that 'crypto was lost forever', investigators prove that this is now a thing of the past. Technology and global cooperation are increasingly successfully recovering funds from the hands of fraudsters.
The USA seized a record 127 271 BTC from the Prince Group fraud.
Recovery firms claim effectiveness of up to 72%.
Why is recovering stolen cryptocurrencies more effective today than ever before?
The turning point was the seizure of 127 271 BTC by U.S. federal authorities — the largest in U.S. history. It showed that blockchain analysis and cooperation among law enforcement agencies have reached a completely new level.
Recovery companies indicate an effectiveness of 58–72%, provided the case is reported within the first 90 days. Nevertheless, even 2/3 of victims never report the crime — which drastically reduces the chances of success.
Modern methods include:
– blockchain analysis and identification of touchpoints with exchanges,
– OSINT (linking wallets to phone numbers, emails, social media),
– cooperation with regulators,
– freezing and confiscation of assets.
The best chances of asset recovery pertain to situations when they reach CEX within 180 days. The worst — when assets go through privacy coins or P2P.
