How big is the chance of getting my stolen crypto back?
Date: | Week: 36 | Reading time: 8 minutes | Updated: Author: Tyler Dijst
In short
Can you get stolen crypto back? Nobody can promise that in advance, but the situation is rarely hopeless. Four factors point the way: how quickly you act, whether the funds are still sitting at an address, which platform they reached and how complicated the route is.
Paucitas is an independent expert firm in the Netherlands that investigates investment fraud and crypto fraud, handling hundreds of cases a year. In practice, more can often be established than people expect, and sometimes it turns out there was no theft at all.
Get in touch with Paucitas or ring +31 20 244 5774. You will soon know where you stand.
In a nutshell
A percentage says little about your own case. What matters is whether the funds are still sitting still, and where they arrived. Paucitas works that out for you, so you know which next step still makes sense.
Your crypto has gone and the first question is an obvious one: will I ever see it again? You may feel embarrassed, or still be unsure whether it really was theft. That is completely understandable, and you are not alone. This question comes up in almost every first conversation we have. The honest answer is that it depends on the case. But you can get clarity much sooner than you might think.
Can you get stolen crypto back?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no, and often somewhere in between. A blockchain transaction cannot be reversed. But the funds do not vanish into thin air either. They move from address to address, and that route is public. Where the route ends largely decides what is still possible.
Anyone who quotes you a fixed percentage does not know your case yet. It is fairer to look at each factor and see whether it works for or against you. That gives you something to hold on to, even if the answer is not quite what you hoped for.
Which four factors decide your chances?
- Time: how long passed between the theft and your first action.
- Standstill: are the funds still at an address, or have they already been moved on?
- Destination: did they arrive at a regulated platform, or at a firm with no supervision at all?
- Route: does the trail run straight, or is it split up, moved across several networks or sent through a mixer?
Do you recognise some unfavourable points in your own situation? That does not automatically mean nothing can be done. It does mean that a sound assessment takes more than a quick look at a block explorer. That is exactly where Paucitas can help.
Why does speed matter so much?
Because time affects the other three factors. After a theft, funds sometimes sit at an address for a while. During that window there is still something to report. Many people lose the first few days to doubt: have I really been robbed? That is only human. So it is best to write down soon what you have, such as the receiving address, the time, the amount and the transaction hash. How to go about that is explained in securing evidence after crypto theft.
Still unsure? Feel free to let Paucitas take a look. You can ring us at any time, 24/7, on +31 20 244 5774.
What if the funds are already at an exchange?
Then the trail on the blockchain stops and the records sit with that platform. That point is called the cash-out point. It sounds like a dead end, but it is often valuable. You then know which firm received the funds and when. In the UK, crypto firms must be registered with the FCA for anti-money laundering purposes, and in the EU they fall under the MiCA Regulation. With a regulated firm, there is someone a request from the authorities can be addressed to.
If the platform sits outside any supervision, the documented route itself is often the most important result. That has value too, for instance for your police report or your solicitor. How such a trail ends is covered in following stolen crypto to an exchange.
And if you have simply lost access to your own wallet?
That is a different situation from theft, and often a more hopeful one. It then depends not on speed or country, but on what you still have: part of your recovery phrase, an old file, a note or another lead. Sometimes Paucitas helps you regain access to your own wallet. We only look into this for a wallet that is lawfully yours, and we will tell you honestly what is realistic in your case.
An example from practice
A woman thought her crypto had been stolen, because her balance in the app suddenly showed zero. She had already found a firm that promised to recover her money, for a fee paid upfront. Before paying, she rang Paucitas.
The route showed that she had moved the funds herself, months earlier, to a second wallet she had forgotten about. There had been no theft. With help tracking down that wallet, she got access to her own funds again.
Paucitas takes privacy very seriously and never shares clients' personal details. This is a composite example: names, amounts and details have been changed. The situation is one we see in practice.
What if someone promises to recover your money?
Be careful, especially if you have to pay first. This pattern is known as a recovery scam, and the FCA warns about recovery room scams too. It is best not to pay anything until you know who you are dealing with. Nobody can promise in advance that the money will come back, Paucitas included. What Paucitas does do is tell you honestly what is still possible in your case.
What Paucitas does for you
Paucitas looks into everything for you: your transactions, the route of the money, the platforms where it arrived and the documents. Paucitas also reads through all the conversations, emails and other communication, so you get the full picture: a timeline and where all the money went, step by step. Paucitas does all its tracing itself, without tracing tools. You receive a report that anyone can follow and understand step by step, including the police and your solicitor.
- What you can provide: whatever you have, such as addresses, screenshots, bank statements and messages. Never your recovery phrase or private key.
- Costs: every investigation is tailored. You receive a bespoke quote in advance, which we go through together, with no surprises.
- Turnaround: from the same day to around two weeks.
What can you do with the Paucitas report? It shows whether money is still available or where it went, and what the next steps are. In a case of fraud or theft, one of those steps is reporting it to Report Fraud in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, or to Police Scotland. The Paucitas report is a strong attachment that sets everything out fully and clearly. What is realistic in general is covered in recovering stolen crypto: what is realistic. A worked example is in an exchange that will not pay out, and what private individuals can expect from us is on our page for private individuals.
Would you like to know where your case stands? Get in touch for a free intake, or ring +31 20 244 5774. Through the form, you will hear from us within 1 to 3 hours.
Sources: Report Fraud; Police Scotland, scams and frauds; FCA, recovery room scams; MiCA Regulation (EU) 2023/1114.
Do you have questions about this blog?
Feel free to get in touch with Paucitas. Paucitas can be reached by phone 24/7, including evenings and weekends. Through the contact form we usually reply within 1 to 3 hours, and we answer e-mail within 24 hours.
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Frequently asked questions about getting stolen crypto back
Can anyone promise that I will get my stolen crypto back?
Paucitas: that depends on your situation. If you still have access to your own wallet or account holding funds, there may still be options. If everything has been sent to the fraudsters, the picture is different. That cannot be judged from a distance. Paucitas first looks at your situation and tells you honestly what is and is not possible. Be careful with anyone who promises in advance that your money will come back. In doubt? Contact Paucitas and you will know where you stand.
How quickly should I act after crypto theft?
Paucitas advises acting preferably soon. While funds are still sitting at an address, there is something to report. Feel free to ring us, also outside office hours.
Is it worth establishing the route if getting the money back is uncertain?
Paucitas finds it worthwhile: you will know which platform received your funds, so the police and your solicitor can take targeted next steps.
I cannot get into my own wallet. Is that theft as well?
Paucitas sees that this is not always the case. Sometimes access has simply been lost. We then look at whether you can get back into your own wallet.
Does Paucitas ask for my recovery phrase?
Paucitas never asks for it. It is not needed to investigate the route. If someone does ask for it, that is a reason to be careful.
From Amsterdam, for the whole of the UK
Everything can be done fully online. Prefer to meet in person? You are very welcome at our office in Amsterdam, by appointment.
Paucitas is an independent expert firm based in the Netherlands that, for clients across the UK, investigates investment fraud and crypto fraud, establishes the origin and legitimacy of crypto assets and prepares expert reports for legal proceedings and compliance.
Your own situation
If you are reading this, you probably have a question about your own situation. That is exactly what Paucitas does.
The first step is contact by phone. You can book that call by phone or through the contact form, so you do not have to wait. In the call we look together at what can factually be established in your case and what Paucitas can examine for you.