South China Morning Post: Chinese police publish technical paper revealing methods for tracking and seizing virtual currencies

According to the South China Morning Post, Sun Shengbin from the Wenzhou Public Security Bureau and Lou Yandi from the Zhejiang Provincial Public Security Department's Criminal Investigation Team published a technical paper on June 4 in the journal "Forensic Technology," systematically disclosing the Chinese police's forensic tools and case handling processes for virtual currency assets such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. The content covers aspects such as device cracking, evidence collection, on-chain transaction tracking, and asset freezing and seizure.

The paper outlines several tracking methods, one of which involves tracking transaction fees back to exchanges like Binance, allowing the police to obtain user data. The police can acquire "Know Your Customer" (KYC) records from major exchanges such as Binance, OKX, and HTX through formal legal channels. For funds stored in exchanges, the police can freeze accounts for six months, and the freezing period can be extended.

Additionally, the document emphasizes strict operational bottom lines: investigators must not privately hold private keys. The principle of "separation of case handling and custody" must be adhered to, with comprehensive supervision and the establishment of a clear regulatory chain record.