Sandia比特币去匿名化工具研发获美政府支持

　　Sandia正在进行一套分析工具的研究，主要目的是解决比特币所面临的法律监管难题，而这个项目甚至获得了美国国土安全部（DHS）科学技术部的支持。

　　随着比特币成为越来越多人的日常支付选择，执法机关开始意识到他们需要通过创新方法来来进行洗钱和网络盗窃案件调查。然而，他们的首要任务就是需要尽量减少在网上跟踪记录非法操作所花费的时间。

　　根据Sandia首席研究员Andrew Cox称，其团队的任务就是要了解数字货币的流通原理。这种可实名可匿名操作的货币可以随意改变交易方式，让交易更经济，但也让加密货币成为了罪犯的一条“绿色通道”。

　　这正是Sandia想为国土安全部完成这项开发研究的原因。

　　Sandia建立起了一套虚拟交易研究环境，来检测其算法能否有效识别非法的虚拟货币匿名交易用户。

　　Cox强调称：“这并不意味着我们能获取到他们的真实姓名，因为要知道并没有任何人的姓名会真正同比特币相关联，但是，可以显示出哪些交易是由同一名用户操作完成的。”

　　据悉，Sandia还将在未来根据项目进程进行不断的细节调整。　　

　　The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) directorate is backing Sandia research with the creation of an analysis tool designed to overcome bitcoin challenges to assist law enforcement.

　　As bitcoin becomes an increasingly accepted form of payment in our day-to-day lives, law enforcement are realizing that they need to utilize innovative approaches that will aid them in their money-laundering and cyber theft investigations. However, their number one priority is to reduce the time spent on tracking illegal operations.

　　According to lead researcher for Sandia, Andrew Cox, the team’s job is to understand how the digital currency works. While he points out that the semi-anonymous currency can potentially change the way transactions are undertaken for the betterment of the economy, the use of the cryptocurrency is still being used by criminals.

　　In a Sandia National Laboratories blog , he said:

　　It has been clear that criminals have been pioneers in using bitcoin. They use it for drugs, for guns, child pornography, and all sorts of terrible stuff.

　　This is why Sandia have conducted their research for the DHS. It is hoped that by setting up a graphical user interface law enforcement and agents will be able to test the algorithms that Sandia utilize in their real-time investigations.

　　Cox added:

　　This will allow us to adjust what we’re doing to make sure we’re being of maximal use to them.

　　Challenges with Bitcoin

　　One of the main challenges that law enforcement face on a daily basis is the amount of time and resources they need to implement in order to track down users.

　　Of course, as bitcoin is a relatively new invention it will likely introduce new measures for businesses that are illegal and legitimate. Unfortunately, due to the fast pace of bitcoin’s growth law enforcement doesn’t have the necessary tools in place to encounter the problems associated with the cryptocurrency.

　　According to Cox, what Sandia needed to do was to understand the numerous patterns linked with bitcoin transactions by looking through past investigations to figure out other configurations. However, he states there is no easy answer.

　　He added:

　　There is not a ‘silver bullet’ algorithm to effectively de-anonymize bitcoin.

　　Bitcoin’s ‘De-Anonymization’ Tool

　　In order to help law enforcement, Sandia conducted research on illegal businesses focusing on bitcoin. They achieved this by setting up a research environment to experiment with other algorithms that can de-anonymize illegal cryptocurrency users.

　　Once the de-anonymization takes place law enforcement will able to connect the bitcoin addresses with a particular individual providing them with the information they need.

　　Cox stressed:　　It doesn’t mean that we get their actual name because there aren’t any names associated with bitcoin, but it will show that some transactions are controlled by the same user.