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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Investigators can often follow stolen cryptocurrency across public blockchains by tracking transactions, analyzing patterns among wallet addresses, and comparing activity with records from exchanges and other service providers. That can help identify a person or support an intervention—but tracing is not the same as proving identity, freezing funds, or recovering them.
What investigators can see on a public blockchain
A blockchain records transactions between addresses. When investigators know an address or transaction linked to a theft, they can inspect its history and follow subsequent transfers. The ledger can show where assets moved, but a wallet address is generally pseudonymous: its public transaction history does not, by itself, name the person controlling it. A U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) court filing describes both the use of transaction data to trace funds and the limits of attributing an address to an owner without further evidence: DOJ court filing.
Tracing therefore builds a picture from multiple kinds of evidence. Analysts examine on-chain transactions, infer relationships between addresses, and look for connections to services that may hold customer records. Each finding can guide an investigation, but an address label or transaction pattern should be treated as an investigative lead, not automatic proof of identity.
How an investigation follows the money
- Start from a known address or transaction. Investigators use information associated with the theft to identify a starting point on the relevant blockchain, then review the public transaction history.
- Follow transfers and assess address relationships. Funds may be split among addresses, grouped together, or sent onward. DOJ says commercial blockchain-analysis services use transaction patterns to form address clusters. How bitcoin is aggregated or divided can provide clues that addresses share an owner or group, but that is an inference requiring context and corroboration—not certainty from a label.
- Account for conversions and cross-chain movement. Stolen assets may pass through intermediary addresses or services and be converted into another cryptocurrency. DOJ described this kind of conversion, often called “chain hopping,” in a 2020 exchange-hack matter. More recent cross-chain activity can require investigators to compare deposits on one network with payouts on another.
- Look for an exchange or other service-provider touchpoint. If the trail reaches a service that collects customer information, investigators may seek records connecting transactions to an account. DOJ says exchanges collect identifying information and that subpoenas or other appropriate legal process can sometimes reveal the person responsible for a transaction. Whether this works depends on the provider, its records, the jurisdiction, and the legal process available.
- Coordinate any attempt to stop or seize funds. A trace can inform monitoring or an investigation, but it does not itself freeze assets. Chainalysis describes a U.S.-focused seizure process involving evidence, coordination with an exchange or custodian, and judicial authorization. That is the vendor’s general description of a U.S. process, not a universal procedure; laws and processes vary by jurisdiction.
Why tracing does not always identify a thief
On-chain evidence can show that assets moved between addresses and can help analysts infer that addresses are connected. It does not necessarily establish who controlled each address. Investigators may need corroborating evidence—such as service-provider records, account information, or other case evidence—to connect a wallet to a person. Even when an exchange holds relevant records, obtaining them depends on the provider, jurisdiction, and appropriate legal process.
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It helps to distinguish five stages: tracing follows the movement of assets; attribution links activity to a person or group; freezing restricts access to assets; seizure places them under legal control; and recovery means returning assets to those entitled to them. Progress at one stage does not guarantee the next.
What recent and historical cases illustrate
The 2026 Bitget case study
In an October 1, 2026 case study, Chainalysis reported that $387 million was stolen from Bitget on September 24, 2026. The company said that within three hours, funds had moved across Ethereum, XRP, Zcash, and Tron. It described matching cross-chain deposits and payouts and said its investigators used AI-assisted automation with human review and investigative direction. These figures and investigative details are Chainalysis’s account of an evolving case, not independently verified findings here: Chainalysis case study.
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The 2019 incidents described by the DOJ
A 2020 DOJ announcement described a July 2019 exchange hack involving more than $272,000 in alternative cryptocurrencies and tokens allegedly stolen, followed by a related September 2019 theft of nearly $2.5 million. DOJ said funds passed through intermediary addresses and exchanges and were sometimes converted to bitcoin or Tether. These amounts and descriptions concern allegations in a forfeiture complaint; they are not a general measure of tracing success or, by themselves, a determination of liability. The announcement also quoted Don Fort, then Chief of IRS Criminal Investigation: “Despite the highly sophisticated laundering techniques used, IRS-CI’s Cybercrimes Unit was able to successfully trace stolen funds directly back to North Korean actors.” That statement describes the case at hand, not a promise that every trace identifies a perpetrator or leads to recovery: DOJ announcement.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why outcomes differ from case to case
Two investigations can begin with a theft and reach very different outcomes. Relevant factors include:
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- Path complexity: how many intermediary addresses, conversions, bridges, or other protocols appear in the trail.
- Strength of the links: whether analysts can confidently connect addresses or match a deposit on one network with a payout on another.
- Service-provider access: whether funds reach an exchange or custodian that can be contacted and is legally reachable.
- Timing and legal process: whether investigators can obtain the necessary cooperation and legal authorization quickly enough to act.
These factors explain why a visible trail is not the same as a successful recovery. The cases above demonstrate specific investigative methods; they do not establish a general recovery rate or average recovery time for cryptocurrency stolen in exchange hacks.
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