This course is City & Guilds Assured
This learning activity has been recognised and assured by City & Guilds, a global leader in learning excellence and quality. The Assured Benchmark is the training quality standard that City & Guilds has developed with industry experts. The framework is made up of five core components (and optional where applicable). City & Guilds also recognises face-to-face and digital learning, assessed or non-assessed training, and training in local languages.
The course takes the form of a number of modules, with each module broken down into short lessons. At the end of each module, you’ll need to pass a knowledge check before moving on to the next. There are also a number of exercises requiring you to use freely available online tools to find information and complete the tasks.
Learning Outcomes
- Explore the evolution of Bitcoin, understanding its origins, purpose, and political significance
- Grasp the principles of blockchain technology and its role in powering digital currencies
- Explore how ‘anonymous’ cryptocurrency addresses are created and their implications for investigations
- Identify platforms and methods people use to buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrencies
- Follow the lifecycle of a Bitcoin transaction, recognising key points where evidence can be gathered
- Analyse transactions to uncover opportunities for tracing and evidencing cryptocurrency activity
- Pinpoint the key evidential artefacts associated with cryptocurrency use and their relevance in an investigation
- Understand the mechanics of mixers and tumblers, and how they are designed to obscure transaction trails
- Apply investigative techniques, such as address monitoring and ‘dusting’, to counter anonymity strategies
- Explain the process of cryptocurrency mining and identify its potential links to illicit activity
- Apply known methods for the seizure and confiscation of digital assets during investigations
- Formulate robust strategies for de-anonymising cryptocurrency addresses and wallets using freely available tools
- Compare Bitcoin with major ‘altcoins’, appreciating their unique features and investigative implications
