How do I obtain a report on crypto for legal proceedings?

By R.T. (Tyler) Dijst, blockchain investigator at Paucitas

Paucitas is an independent expert firm in the Netherlands that investigates investment fraud and crypto fraud and establishes legitimate crypto assets.

A report that is usable in proceedings does not start with the data but with the question. Paucitas works with your lawyer to establish exactly what needs to be proven or rebutted, and then delivers a report answering that question in a form the court can read.

How Paucitas builds a report on crypto for legal proceedings

First we sharpen the question. Then we gather the data, record how we obtained it, carry out the analysis and write the report. Every figure in the report traces back to a transaction or an export line.

We take account of the requirements placed on evidence: the provenance of the data is documented, the steps are repeatable and the evidential value of each finding is stated separately.

What you supply

The question or a draft of it, the relevant pleadings, the addresses, transaction hashes and export files, and the deadline that applies in the proceedings.

What you receive

A report with the question, the provenance of the data, the method, the findings, the limitations and a conclusion, plus an annex with the underlying data. On request, a one page summary for the pleadings.

We agree a lead time up front and report it immediately if that comes under pressure, so your lawyer can keep to the deadline.

How to get started

Have your lawyer send the question and the deadline. In a first conversation you will hear whether the question can be answered with the available data.

European supervisors publish background on crypto assets and the rules that apply to them: see ESMA and EBA.

We do not assess who is right. We establish the facts the court needs in order to assess that itself.

Frequently asked questions

How do I obtain a report on crypto for proceedings?

Through your lawyer: together we sharpen the question, and we then deliver a report with method, findings and limitations.

How long does such a report take?

That depends on the question and the number of transactions; we agree the lead time in advance and monitor it.

What if the data is incomplete?

Then that goes into the report as a limitation. A named gap is more usable than a filled in assumption.

Further reading

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. We prefer to schedule that call through WhatsApp, 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.

Go to the contact form