IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/digfin/v7y2025i4d10.1007_s42521-025-00148-1.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The (mis)use of cryptocurrencies by criminal organizations: a systematic literature review

Author

Listed:
  • Gioia Arnone

    (University of Palermo)

  • Giovanni Scire’

    (University of Palermo)

  • Enzo Bivona

    (University of Palermo)

Abstract

This study explores the intersection between cryptocurrencies and criminal organizations through a systematic literature review. By examining peer-reviewed academic publications, the research identifies the mechanisms by which criminal groups leverage digital currencies for illicit activities such as money laundering, fraud, and extortion. A structured PRISMA-based methodology was adopted, employing well-defined inclusion, and exclusion criteria to ensure transparency and replicability. The study reveals critical trends in the misuse of cryptocurrencies, the technological challenges faced by regulators, and the limitations of current enforcement frameworks. The originality of this research lies in synthesizing existing academic insights while identifying key gaps in the literature. The findings highlight the urgent need for tailored regulatory responses and greater cross-border cooperation, contributing to both academic understanding and policymaking. The practical implications include recommendations for policy adaptation and future research pathways to mitigate cryptocurrency-enabled criminal behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Gioia Arnone & Giovanni Scire’ & Enzo Bivona, 2025. "The (mis)use of cryptocurrencies by criminal organizations: a systematic literature review," Digital Finance, Springer, vol. 7(4), pages 815-851, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:digfin:v:7:y:2025:i:4:d:10.1007_s42521-025-00148-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s42521-025-00148-1
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s42521-025-00148-1
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s42521-025-00148-1?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    JEL classification:

    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
    • G28 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • E42 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Monetary Sytsems; Standards; Regimes; Government and the Monetary System
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:digfin:v:7:y:2025:i:4:d:10.1007_s42521-025-00148-1. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.